Murray, records 20th Match Win Of Season, Almagro, Verdasco Advance Into Third Round, Nadal to Debut Tomorrow
Andy Murray has a 2-3 record in Barcelona.
Andy Murray became the eighth player this year to register 20 match wins on Tuesday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. The second-seeded Scot, who trained in Barcelona as a teenager, improved to a 20-5 season record with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine for a place in the third round.
"I thought I was hitting the ball well and I played better as the match went on," said Murray, who reached the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters quarter-finals last week (l. to Berdych). The Scot told media he had a good start to the tournament: “I hit the ball very well. Physically I felt in great shape, although I was a little tired mentally.”
Murray added that “Stakhovsky is a different rival who varies his shots a lot. I served well and won many points on the first serve, which is something I have been working on lately.”
http://www.tv3.cat/videos/4066670/2a-jornada-Barcelona-Open-Banc-Sabadellhttp://www.tv3.cat/videos/4065730/Godo-2a-jornada-matiNinth seed Spanish favorite Fernando Verdasco, who defeated Robin Soderling for the 2010 title, experienced few problems in beating Belgian Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-1. Verdasco, one of two champions in the main draw along with six-time titlist Rafael Nadal, notched his 12th match win in Barcelona in 73 minutes. The World No. 20 dropped 12 points on his serve against Darcis, who saved six of 10 break points. The 2010 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell champion is happy about his successful return to the Real Club Tennis Barcelona after he missed out on the tournament last year. “It’s always a great feeling to return to a tournament as former champion. The clay court in Barcelona is perfect and I hope to get far this year. I hope to recover my best tennis here,” said Verdasco.
http://www.rtve.es/deportes/20120424/verdasco-primer-espanol-octavos-del-conde-godo/518190.shtmlSixth seed fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who is making his ninth appearance at the ATP World Tour 500 clay-court tournament (17-8 record), beat Eduoard Roger-Vasselin of France 7-5, 7-6(3) in one hour and 48 minutes. The Spaniard has already picked up one ATP World Tour title on red dirt this year at the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo (d. Volandri). He is 16-3 on clay in 2012.The World No. 12 faced a tough opener, reaching the tie-break in the second set after being one break down at 4-5. “Playing at home is always an extra pressure for me, I’m happy to have made it to the third round,” said Almagro.
Ninth seed Spanish favorite Fernando Verdasco, who defeated Robin Soderling for the 2010 title, experienced few problems in beating Belgian Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-1. Verdasco, one of two champions in the main draw along with six-time titlist Rafael Nadal, notched his 12th match win in Barcelona in 73 minutes. The World No. 20 dropped 12 points on his serve against Darcis, who saved six of 10 break points. The 2010 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell champion is happy about his successful return to the Real Club Tennis Barcelona after he missed out on the tournament last year. “It’s always a great feeling to return to a tournament as former champion. The clay court in Barcelona is perfect and I hope to get far this year. I hope to recover my best tennis here,” said Verdasco.
In first-round action, Portugal's Frederico Gil knocked out local resident and 12th seed Marcel Granollers 6-2, 6-2 in 73 minutes. Granollers is now 2-7 lifetime at the ATP World Tour 500 clay-court tournament. “It was a very bad game for me,” said a disappointed Granollers. “I have not been feeling very well since Monte Carlo. If you can’t play 100% you cannot do anything,” added the Spaniard, who has been suffering from flu since last week.
South African Kevin Anderson, the No. 13 seed, saved all six break points he faced to beat Malek Jaziri of Tunisia, 6-2, 6-3 in 73 minutes.
Australian No. 15 seed Bernard Tomic, the youngest player in the Top 50 of the South African Airways ATP Rankings, won 73 per cent of his service points to overcome Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-3, 6-4 in 68 minutes.
"I think I played well on my service games," 19-year-old Tomic told ATPWorldTour.com. "I am starting to move better on the clay and it is the best I've played so far. Hopefully in the next round [against Albert Montanes], I'll be ready to run and be physical with him. I think I'll need to play a little more aggressively and be patient at times."
Erlich/Ram Win On Return To Barcelona
Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, making their team’s first appearance at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell in four years, edged Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo and Eduardo Schwank 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in one hour and 42 minutes Tuesday. The Israelis, runners-up in the 2012 season opener at Chennai, next face No. 3 seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Nenad Zimonjic.
Eric Butorac and Bruno Soares, champions this past February at the clay-court tournament in Sao Paulo, needed one hour to dismiss Americans Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram 6-3, 6-3.
All eyes will be on the debut of Spain’s World No. 2 Rafa Nadal tomorrow, who arrived in Barcelona on Monday after claiming his record eighth consecutive title in Monte Carlo. Nadal will face fellow Spaniard Garcia Lopez on the Pista Central in the second afternoon match. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, the former World No. 23, defeated Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-3. Nadal leads Garcia-Lopez 3-1 in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head, with his sole loss coming on hard courts two years ago in the Bangkok semi-finals.
Other top players to debut on Wednesday are Spain’s clay-court specialist David Ferrer, Serbia’s World No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic, Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Spain’s Feliciano Lopez. Don’t miss out on the action!
