Help
2/4/10 9:18 PM | Ricky Dimon
David Ferrer and Gael Monfils win their respective second-round matches in Johannesburg on Thursday. They are joined in the quarterfinals by Somdev Devvarman, who eased past Thiago Alves.
David Ferrer endured a relative struggle with unheralded qualifier Filip Prpic on Thursday afternoon in Johannesburg, but the second-seeded Spaniard prevailed 6-3, 6-4 after one hour and 48 minutes to reach the quarterfinals of the SA Tennis Open.
Ferrer dominated Prpic's second serve in the first set, winning 16 of 19 those points, and he never faced a break point in his five service games. The 316th-ranked Swede capitalized on one of six break-point opportunities in the second, but he surrendered his own serve twice. Ferrer served out the proceedings at 5-4, wrapping up his effort with two aces, three double-faults, and 69 percent second-serve return points won.
"I played well in the second set, but did struggle on my serve as I was a little nervous," Ferrer admitted. "It isn't easy to play here."
Top-seeded Gael Monfils did not have too much difficulty with Josselin Ouanna in a showdown between 23-year-old Frenchmen. Monfils needed one hour and 23 minutes to dismiss Ouanna 6-4, 7-5 and set up a quarterfinal clash with No. 7 seed Yen-Hsun Lu.
Monfils converted only three of 16 break chances throughout the match and he squandered nine in his first two return games before finally capitalizing on his 10th opportunity for a 3-1 lead. The world No. 13 gave the break back right away, but his second break of the night finished off the opening frame of play in style.
Ouanna saved four more break points at 3-4 in the second set to hold serve from down 0-40, but the world No. 121 sprayed an errant forehand on his opponent's first match point at 5-6, 30-40. Monfils finished with 12 aces and six double-faults while winning 31 of 34 first-serve points.
India's Somdev Devvarman joined the top two seeds in the quarterfinals with a straightforward 6-4, 6-1 victory over Thiago Alves. Devvarman never dropped serve and saved all three of the break points he faced while needing just one hour and six minutes to reach his third career ATP quarterfinal (2008 Washington D.C., 2009 Chennai).
The world No. 162 fired six aces without double-faulting and he lost a mere nine points on serve over the course of the entire match. Alves, meanwhile, appeared to struggle physically and the 134th-ranked Brazilian won only seven of 17 points when he had to toss in a second serve.
"I played well today and I hope to have a good match in the next round," said Devvarman, who will go head-to-head with Ferrer on Friday. "I definitely enjoy playing in Joburg."
Tell a friend »
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2012, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
