Help
3/29/10 4:32 AM | Kelli DeMario
In a clash of fellow seeds, Marin Cilic is scheduled to face Marcos Baghdatis in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open late Monday afternoon. The winner moves through to book a place in the round of 16.
(7) Marin Cilic vs. (25) Marcos Baghdatis
Seventh seed Marin Cilic spent an hour on court Saturday, easing to a comfortable win over second-round opponent Stephane Robert. The 21-year-old Croat, ranked World No. 9, did not face a break point en route to a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Cilic, a 2010 title-winner in Chennai and Zagreb, improved his season mark to 19-3. He takes on former World No. 8 Marcos Baghdatis for a first-time meeting late Monday.
Sydney champion Marcos Baghdatis, seeded 25th this week, took out veteran Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina on Saturday. The 24-year-old dropped just one service game, cruising to an hour and 22-minute victory, 6-2, 6-4. With a win over Cilic, Baghdatis advances to his first round of 16 at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Prediction: Could be tight if Cilic doesn’t serve well. The Croat in straight sets.
(10) Fernando Verdasco vs. (23) Jurgen Melzer
San Jose title-winner and 10th seed Fernando Verdasco holds a 3-1 lifetime edge over 23rd seed Jurgen Melzer heading into their third-round battle. The players last met in the 2009 New Haven quarterfinal, with Verdasco notching a routine straight-set win, 6-3, 6-1.
The 26-year-old held eight of 8 service games without facing break point on Saturday, breezing through to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Dudi Sela. Verdasco moved to 12-4 for the year, aiming to reach his second consecutive round of 16 berth in Miami.
World No. 28 Jurgen Melzer defeated Alejandro Falla in round two, capturing 30 of 35 first-service points. The veteran Austrian won his 14th match in 2010, and looks to make his first trip to the Sony Ericsson round of 16.
Prediction: Verdasco in three sets.
(16) Tomas Berdych vs. Horacio Zeballos
Sixteenth seed Tomas Berdych leads third-round opponent Horacio Zeballos 1-0 in the head-to-head, taking the pair’s only meeting at the 2009 US Open. The 24-year-old Czech, entering the week ranked World No. 20, saved four of 5 break points during his opener with Thiemo De Bakker on Saturday. Berdych withstood 10 aces to score a 6-3, 6-4 victory in one hour and 23 minutes. The 2008 Sony Ericsson semifinalist is 13-6 for the season.
The 58th-ranked Zeballos upset 20th seed Gilles Simon in the second round, 6-2, 6-3. The 24-year-old Argentine began his maiden Sony Ericsson Open with a straight-set win over Andreas Seppi of Italy, 7-6, 6-2.
Prediction: Always a tough call where Berdych is concerned, but the Czech should win in two sets against clay-courter Zeballos.
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
