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  • Monfils, Melzer book QF spots at BA Tennis Trophy

    10/9/08 8:29 PM | Ricky Dimon
    - Gael Monfils puts on an awesome show of tennis against Radek Stepanek before Jurgen Melzer treats the Austrian crowd to a victory. Feliciano Lopez also reaches the Vienna quarterfinals.

    Gael Monfils d. Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-3

    Monfils got off to a slow start, but once he recovered it was an indoor tennis clinic performed by the Frenchman. That's a bit surprising, too, since Monfils usually spends most of his time counter-punching and waiting for his opponents to make errors. After he fell behind 4-2, however, the No. 8 displayed a brilliant all-court game and took the action right to Stepanek. Monfils won the last four games of the opening set and never looked back. He took care of all four of his service games in set two and his always-stellar return game was once again in fine form and too much for the Czech to overcome. Monfils dominated play when he got looks at second serves and his second break of the set finished off the match in just one hour and 11 minutes. Second-seeded Fernando Gonzalez awaits Monfils in the quarterfinals.

    Feliciano Lopez d. Santiago Giraldo 7-6(5), 6-3

    The lucky loser Giraldo benefited from Tommy Robredo's withdrawal from Vienna, but he was not so lucky in the second round against Lopez. The Colombian did well for himself, however, as the match came down simply to one tiebreaker and one break of serve. Lopez barely eked out the first set and finally secured the only break of the match in set two. The Spaniard had saved one break point in the first set, but in the second he absolutely dominated on serve. He lost a mere six service points, including only one when he put his first deliveries in the court. Lopez will meet Jurgen Melzer for a spot in the semifinals.

    Jurgen Melzer d. Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6(4) 6-3

    Melzer's home-court advantage in Austria and his big serve were too much for Ferrero to overcome on Thursday night. The Spaniard was competitive throughout the proceedings except for a brief rough stretch at the end of the first and beginning of the second that ultimately did him in. Both men fended off break points as the opening frame of play progressed to a tiebreaker, which Melzer took seven points to four. Perhaps a bit discouraged from being so close but losing the first, Ferrero dropped serve for the first time to go down 2-0 in the second. Trading breaks of serve later in the set was not enough for Ferrero, and Melzer served out the match at 5-3 to book his place in the quarterfinals. The Austrian fired seven aces past his opponent to aid his efforts, while Ferrero had three but also double-faulted three times.

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