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2/2/10 7:55 PM | Ricky Dimon
Gael Monfils and cruises past Dominik Hrbaty on Tuesday evening in Johannesburg. Monfils is joined in the second round by Somdev Devvarman, who took out Xavier Malisse in straight sets.
No. 1 seed Gael Monfils made a dominant start to his SA Tennis Open campaign, dispatching Dominik Hrbaty 6-2, 6-1 on Tueday in Johannesburg. Monfils needed a mere 53 minutes to set up a second-round encounter with fellow Frenchman Josselin Ouanna.
It was the 32-year-old Hrbaty, whoever, got off to a fast start. The veteran Slovak went up a break early in the first set, but the momentum was short-lived as Monfils suddenly came to life. After getting the break back for 2-2, the world No. 13 did not lose another game throughout the remainder of the first set. Monfils' third break of the evening came at 5-2 to finish off the opening frame of play in style.
From there it was all over. Hrbaty continued to put in less than half of his first serves and he won only four points in his last four return games. Monfils closed out the proceedings on serve at 5-1 in the second, wrapping up his effort with seven aces and four double-faults while winning an incredible 23 of 25 first-serve points.
No. 6 seed Xavier Malisse, however, failed to advance on Tuesay afternoon. The 29-year-ol Belgian squandered an early lead and fell to Somev Devvarman 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 28 minutes. Devvarman trailed 4-2 in the first set and faced two break points as he neared a 5-2 deficit, but the world No. 162 managed to hold serve and promptly stole all of the momentum.
Devvarman got back on serve at 4-4, then broke Malisse again to take the opening frame of play 6-4. Malisse, who won just three of nine second-serve points in set two, could not recover. Devvarman saved the only break point he faced in the second set, so two more breaks of his own were more than enough for an upset victory.
India's top-ranked player, who also advanced to the second round of the Chennai Open earlier this season, awaits either Thiago Alves of Brazil or the Ukraine's Oleksandr Dolgopolov, Jr.
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I have seen him both in college and the pros. he is incredibly fast and consistent, but has no offensive weapons. That's why he was able to absolutely dominate the college game, but has struggled in the pros.
Still, he should be Top 100.
RickyDimon , 2/3/10 3:37 PM
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Anbody hav seen Devvarman playing? How good is his game? I know he hav beaten few good players
Max , 2/3/10 9:54 AM