The big guns didn’t play in day 3 in Madrid, but we had still good tennis.
HARRISON – STAKHOVSKY – 7-6 (3) 7-6 (5)
Coming from USA where the clay courts are usually green, the American didn’t have “colours” problems on this surface. He wasn’t supposed to have a super tough match to play against the world nr.82, but some adjustments were required.
Ryan service games were not 100% perfects, but the America was quite good to save 10 break points out of 11. Eventually the match was decided at the tiebreaks in both sets. (no breaks in the first set, 1 break each in the second)
Harrison will play Tsonga in the second round.
ALMAGRO – GIRALDO 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-3
A very nervous Almagro finally managed to fight back to recover a 1 set deficit. In the first set there was no break (and no break points) to end up to the tiebreak. Giraldo had a 6-2 lead when Almagro managed somewhat to recover 3 set points to serve when he was 6-5 down. Then Nicolas missed a silly shot to lose the opener. At that point, the world nr.13 was really upset to find himself in that situation. Attitude and body language were all clear and it was a quick 6-3 6-3 in the next 2 sets for the Spaniard.
Nicolas will play either Granollers or Berloq in the next round.
If you understand Spanish…
TROICKI – YOUNG 6-1 4-6 6-1
The Serbian is not playing a great tennis this year to fall to the 30th place in the ATP ranking (last year he achieved the 12th place). With Young (ranked nr.50) it was another struggle to win the match in almost 3 hours.
Troicki will play either Bellucci or Gasquet in the next round.
Young played the hotshot of the day (video above)
OTHER RESULTS
[Q] Gimeno-Traver – [Q] Hanescu 7-6 (3) 4-6 63
[W] Garcia-Lopez – Baghdatis 6-4 3-6 6-4
Youzhny – Marti 6-3 6-2
[Q] Andreev – Ferrero 6-4 7-6 (4)
[Q] Falla – Chela 6-3 2-6 6-2
INTERESTING MATCHES TO COME in DAY4
Melzer – Feliciano Lopez
Raonic – Nalbandian -> the winner will take on Federer
Berdych – Anderson
Gasquet – Bellucci -> both in great form
Simon – Fognini -> replay of last week’s final in Belgrade
