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7/14/09 9:25 PM | Ricky Dimon
Juan Monaco defeats fellow Argentine and doubles partner Maximo Gonzalez at the Catella Swedish Open on Tuesday. Potito Starace is also through to the second round after a straight-set win over Julien Benneteau.
Juan Monaco d. (8) Maximo Gonzalez 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-1
In a battle of friendly doubles partners, Monaco needed two hours and 18 minutes to dispatch Gonzalez and book a spot in the Bastad second round. A grueling first set of baseline tennis saw the two clay-court standouts exchanged two breaks of serve each. The ensuing tiebreaker was controlled by Monaco, who took it seven points to four. Despite serving at 85 percent in the second set, Monaco was broken twice more. This time two breaks were enough for Gonzalez, who donated serve just once in set two en route to forcing a decisive third. Seeded eighth despite being ranked 13 places behind Monaco at 74th in the world, Gonzalez could sustain the momentum throughout the final frame of play. Monaco feasted on his opponent's serve during the third set and never looked back after an early break. The in-form Argentine won all three of his return games in the final set, setting up a second-round encounter with Victor Crivoi on Thursday. Monaco and Gonzalez will begin their doubles campaign on Wednesday against the Spanish team of Nicolas Almagro and Santiago Ventura.
(Q) Potito Starace d. Julien Benneteau 7-6(5), 6-3
Starace continued his solid clay-court form, dispatching Benneteau in straight sets on Tuesday in Bastad. The 65th-ranked Italian reached the Barcelona third round earlier this season and appeared in two recent clay-court Challenger finals, winning one. Benneteau, ranked 73rd in the world, is not quite as comfortable on the slow stuff but went toe-to-toe with his opponent throughout the first set. After Starace took the opening frame of play in a tiebreaker, however, it became more routine for him as he began to wear Benneteau out from the baseline. Next up for Starace will be a tough second-round clash with either Marat Safin or No. 5 seed Nicolas Almagro.
In other first-round matches on Tuesday, Bjorn Phau ousted Swedish wild card Daniel Berta in straight sets and Daniel Koellerer came back from a set down to beat Steve Darcis.
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Not surprised Monaco won. More happy for Starace, who I think has lost a couple matches I believe he should have won this year. Or at least one I can think of against one Scot.
Recordbreaks , 7/15/09 5:35 AM