MASTERS SERIES HAMBURG presented by EON Hanse |
May 14, 2008 |
| Safin, Kiefer Win; Blake, Berdych, Wawrinka Fall | |
| © Bongarts/Getty Images Serbian Janko Tipsarevic improved to 17-40 lifetime against Top 10 opponents after beating seventh seed Blake 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours. The 23-year-old Tipsarevic, a quarterfinalist at Zagreb (l. to Stakhovsky) and ATP Masters Series Miami (l Davydenko), improves to 14-9 this year while Delray Beach and Houston runner-up Blake drops to a 25-10 mark. Two-time former finalist Marat Safin (pictured), who qualified this week for his first ATP tournament since October 1998 in Stuttgart, beat Berdych for the second time in a month on Center Court. Having helped Russia into the Davis Cup quarterfinals with victory over Berdych six weeks ago, the former World No. 1 saved three of four break points to triumph 7-5, 6-4 in 91 minutes. While the 22-year-old Berdych drops to 12-9 on the season and 0-3 on clay courts, Safin – the lowest ranked player remaining in the draw at No. 89 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings – improves to 18-8 in Hamburg. He finished runner-up in 2000 (l. to Kuerten) and 2002 (l. to Federer). The 28-year-old now plays No. 11 seed Carlos Moya of Spain, who beat Belgian lucky loser Olivier Rochus 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 34 minutes. Watch Wednesday Highlights Below Watch Live Matches, Highlights and Interviews on ATP Masters Series TV Tipsarevic will now meet Spaniard Albert Montanes, who will contest a third round match at an ATP Masters Series event for the first time since 2002 Rome (l. to A. Costa) Thursday. The World No. 78 knocked out Jose Acasuso 7-6(3), 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes to snap a four-match losing streak against the 25-year-old Argentine.
"Nikolay is very tough of course - especially on clay," said Kiefer. "He is very consistent. Of course I have to play even better tomorrow. My advantage is, I will go out on court, and even if I don�t play my best tennis, I will run and try to play my game, play aggressively again. I know the audience is on my side, and that will help me as well." Argentine No. 12 seed Juan Monaco cruised past Simone Bolelli of Italy, the recent Munich finalist (l. to Gonzalez), with a 6-2, 6-1 victory in 69 minutes. World No. 15 and Vina del Mar runner-up Monaco saved all five break points he faced and improved to 19-9 on the season. He goes on to meet Italian Andreas Seppi. Croatian Ivo Karlovic fought back from a 1-4 deficit in the third set, saved one match point at 4-5 and served 20 aces in a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) victory over No. 13 seed and 2006 champion Tommy Robredo of Spain. The World No. 24 improves to 3-0 lifetime against Robredo. Masters Series Hamburg Profile | International TV Schedule Tuesday: Wawrinka Makes Strong Start; Gasquet Falls
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This Week on the ATP World Tour
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American World No. 8 James Blake and No. 11-ranked Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic suffered second round exits to lower-ranked opponents at Masters Series Hamburg presented by EON Hanse on Wednesday. 
German Nicolas Kiefer (pictured right) reached the Hamburg third round for the first time since 2001 (l. to Santoro) when he beat World No. 10 and last week's Rome finalist Stanislas Wawrinka 7-5, 7-5 in two hours and 24 minutes. The 30-year-old is now 32-67 against Top 10 opponents. His last Top 10 win on clay came over No. 10 Gaston Gaudio at the 2006 ATP World Team Championship in Dusseldorf. He will next meet World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.
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