Miami – 2R
Andy Murray‘s [5] slump continues severely. The Brit lost at Indian Wells to No. 143 in the world (Donald Young), in Miami was beaten 1-6, 5-7 by Alex Bogomolov [118] – a player who advanced only once to the Top 100 for just three weeks seven years ago… “In practice I have been competing well, especially this week, chasing everything down, playing a lot of good points and feeling good. Then in the matches I haven’t been able to get it going at all” complained Murray who has lost the last 9 sets he played – the worst streak in his professional career! Murray’s namesake – Roddick (No 8, the defending champion) was out-aced and outplayed by Pablo Cuevas [67]. Andy’s Murray and Roddick found themselves among 14 seeded players eliminated in the second round, twice more than at Indian Wells at the same stage of tournament!
Juan Martin del Potro and Philipp Kohlschreiber [32] just one week after tight two-setter at Indian Wells, met again to play this time an entertaining & tight three-set match which lasted 3 hours 3 minutes. The German was two points away from advancing to the next round, leading 5:4 (30-15) in the 3rd set, but Del Potro survived capturing the last three games, fought off two break points in the last game to clinch the fourth straight victory over the German 6-7, 6-4, 7-5. A match between Del Potro and Robin Soderling [4] looks like the most interesting third round prospect. The Swede was also close to lose his three-setter to Ivan Dodig, trailing *0:3 (30-40), won 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
James Blake in the first round won his first main level match being on verge of defeat in two sets, in the second round was two points away from losing to Thomaz Bellucci [30]. Blake prevailed 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(6) winning for the first time in career two matches in the final set tie-breaks! Supposedly in the third round his run is going to the end because he faces Novak Djokovic [2]. The Serb keeps his extraordinary form winning again ‘6-0, 6-1’ (with the exact same scoreline he won two matches in his previous tournament at Indian Wells). This time a victim was Denis Istomin [49] whom Djokovic defeated with similar ease (6-1, 6-1, 6-2) in their first encounter, last year at the Australian Open. Djokovic appeared on the court in a mask and T-Shirt with Japanese flag as a sign of supporting Japan – this country suffered tsunami on March 11, 2011, causing over 9,000 deaths (last week at Indian Wells, Djokovic was playing with bandage on his left knee with handwritten “Support Japan”). The following day, Djokovic played the first round in doubles, teaming up for the first time with Andy Murray, and made miracles in defense at 7:5* in the super tie-break, but the Brit hasn’t been in the winning mood lately and the Serb-British duo lost to Stakhovsky/Youzhny 7-5, 3-6, [8-10].
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