04.02.2015.
Baghdatis saved match point, Dodig through in straight sets
Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who won the title here in 2007, survived 26 aces and match point against top-seeded Ivo Karlovic in the second round of the PBZ Zagreb Indoors. Baghdatis won by 3:6, 7:6 (5), 7:6 (7) and reached the quarterfinals after the thrilling battle.
"I was a bit fresher than in the first round, but against Ivo there are not many rallies and you don't get chance to get tired. You have to be explosive", Baghdatis said.
Karlovic had massive 83% of his first serves in and won 80% of first serve points, but it was Baghdatis who played better at crucial moments. Cypriot won the first tie-break after trailing 1-3 and the second one after saving match point at 6-7.
"It's very tough to play against guy with such a serve and such a first serve percentage. Even for the best returners in the game, such as Novak Djokovic, is tough", Baghdatis said.
Everything about Ivo Karlovic in Zagreb is now related to number ten. This is the 10th edition of the tournament, his 10th attempt here and his win-loss record is now 10-10.
"I was a bit fresher than in the first round, but against Ivo there are not many rallies and you don't get chance to get tired. You have to be explosive", Baghdatis said.
Karlovic had massive 83% of his first serves in and won 80% of first serve points, but it was Baghdatis who played better at crucial moments. Cypriot won the first tie-break after trailing 1-3 and the second one after saving match point at 6-7.
"It's very tough to play against guy with such a serve and such a first serve percentage. Even for the best returners in the game, such as Novak Djokovic, is tough", Baghdatis said.
Everything about Ivo Karlovic in Zagreb is now related to number ten. This is the 10th edition of the tournament, his 10th attempt here and his win-loss record is now 10-10.
"It's not easy to handle this. I expected more. I did not play bad, I had match point and did not convert it", Karlovic said.
Ivan Dodig (pictured), also former champion (2011) won in straight sets against Croatian compatriot Mate Delic by 6:2, 6:3.
Dodig won three opening games, broke again at 5:2 and then started second set the same as the first one, building 3:0 lead. He faced no break point and Delic managed to get to deuce only once at Dodig's serve.
Russian Mikhail Youzhny won the battle of former Zagreb champions by losing only three games against Sergiy Stakhovsky from Ukraine (6:2, 6:1).
"It was much tougher than it seems. I had to save two break points early into the match and every game was a battle", Youzhny said.
It was their fifth career meeting and the first since Youzhny defeated Stakhovsky in the first round in Zagreb three years ago. A few days later Russian won the title. Youzhny now leads head-to-head series 4-1.
Dutchman Igor Sijsling won in straight sets against Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic, 6:4, 7:5. Sijsling squandered two match points serving at 5:4, but was still able to reach the second round.
Ivan Dodig (pictured), also former champion (2011) won in straight sets against Croatian compatriot Mate Delic by 6:2, 6:3.
Dodig won three opening games, broke again at 5:2 and then started second set the same as the first one, building 3:0 lead. He faced no break point and Delic managed to get to deuce only once at Dodig's serve.
Russian Mikhail Youzhny won the battle of former Zagreb champions by losing only three games against Sergiy Stakhovsky from Ukraine (6:2, 6:1).
"It was much tougher than it seems. I had to save two break points early into the match and every game was a battle", Youzhny said.
It was their fifth career meeting and the first since Youzhny defeated Stakhovsky in the first round in Zagreb three years ago. A few days later Russian won the title. Youzhny now leads head-to-head series 4-1.
Dutchman Igor Sijsling won in straight sets against Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic, 6:4, 7:5. Sijsling squandered two match points serving at 5:4, but was still able to reach the second round.