Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Wawrinka Begins Quest For Second Monte-Carlo Title .
Former champion Stan Wawrinka opened his Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters campaign on Wednesday with a 7-6(2), 7-5 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Breaks were exchanged at the start of the match before Wawrinka ultimately took the first set in a tie-break. The Swiss squandered a 3-1 lead in the second set, but broke Kohlschreiber again in the 11th game before sealing victory in one hour and 37 minutes.
"It was a good first match, first match on clay," said Wawrinka. "It's never easy to find the rhythm and to play the perfect match. In general, I'm quite happy with the level already."
Wawrinka broke up the domination of the ‘Big Four’ at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments when he captured his first title at this level in Monte-Carlo two years ago, beating countryman Roger Federer in the final. Between them, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Federer and Rafael Nadal have won 50 of the past 54 Masters 1000 titles.
The 30-year-old Wawrinka set a clash with Gilles Simon as he claimed his 16th win of the season, highlighted by titles in Chennai (d. Coric) and Dubai (d. Baghdatis).
Qualifier Damir Dzumhur claimed one of the biggest wins of his career as he upset sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3 in two hours and 28 minutes. The 23 year old, from Bosnia & Herzegovina, saved eight of the nine break points he faced as he battled to victory.
Dzumhur is coming off a career-best week in Miami, where he was victorious over Rafael Nadal (retired) in the second round before going on to reach the fourth round (l. to Raonic). He goes on to face either Milos Raonic or Pablo Cuevas.
France’s Benoit Paire set a third-round clash with Andy Murray after defeating Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-3.
Breaks were exchanged at the start of the match before Wawrinka ultimately took the first set in a tie-break. The Swiss squandered a 3-1 lead in the second set, but broke Kohlschreiber again in the 11th game before sealing victory in one hour and 37 minutes.
"It was a good first match, first match on clay," said Wawrinka. "It's never easy to find the rhythm and to play the perfect match. In general, I'm quite happy with the level already."
Wawrinka broke up the domination of the ‘Big Four’ at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments when he captured his first title at this level in Monte-Carlo two years ago, beating countryman Roger Federer in the final. Between them, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Federer and Rafael Nadal have won 50 of the past 54 Masters 1000 titles.
The 30-year-old Wawrinka set a clash with Gilles Simon as he claimed his 16th win of the season, highlighted by titles in Chennai (d. Coric) and Dubai (d. Baghdatis).
Qualifier Damir Dzumhur claimed one of the biggest wins of his career as he upset sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3 in two hours and 28 minutes. The 23 year old, from Bosnia & Herzegovina, saved eight of the nine break points he faced as he battled to victory.
Dzumhur is coming off a career-best week in Miami, where he was victorious over Rafael Nadal (retired) in the second round before going on to reach the fourth round (l. to Raonic). He goes on to face either Milos Raonic or Pablo Cuevas.
France’s Benoit Paire set a third-round clash with Andy Murray after defeating Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-3.
Rafael Nadal Reaches Monte Carlo Third Round
Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal claimed his 54th win at the Monte-Carlo Country Club on Wednesday as he defeated Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
The Spaniard set an intriguing match-up with 12th seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Nadal when they met in February on clay in the semi-finals in Buenos Aires.
The 29-year-old Nadal is chasing a record-equalling 28th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown this week to draw back level with Novak Djokovic, who overtook the Mallorcan with victories in Indian Wells and Miami last month.
Nadal won a record 46 straight matches in Monte-Carlo as he captured eight successive titles from 2005-12, before his run came to an end in the 2013 final against Novak Djokovic.
His next opponent, Thiem, rallied from a slow start to beat qualifier Taro Daniel 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 in one hour and 43 minutes. The 22-year-old Austrian was the form player on the ATP World Tour in February, winning titles in Buenos Aires and Acapulco, while also reaching the semi-finals in Rio de Janeiro. The right-hander has a 26-6 record on the season.
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