24
THE SPORT
Friday, September 26, 2008
DAILY XPRESS
THAILAND OPEN
CRUISE
Novok Djokovic returns a shot to Simon Stadler. The Serbian won 6-1 6-3.
Djokovic eases past Stadler to book last-eight spot; Mahut stuns Nieminen By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam D A I LY X P R E S S
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rowd favourite Novak Djokovic of Serbia sailed through to the quarter-finals of the US$576,000 ATP Thailand Open following a stunning victory over German qualifier Simon Stadler at the Impact Arena yesterday. The world No 3 and top seed did not disappoint a crowd of 1,500 cheering fans – the biggest so far this week – as he displayed top-quality shots to tame Stadler 6-1 6-3 in his second trip to the Kingdom. He was here for the 2004 edition. The Serbian stormed through the first set in just 22 minutes, mixing devastating groundstrokes with great shot
selection to leave the German left-hander stranded time and again. Djokovic found himself 0-2 down in the second set but recovered to get back into the contest. He broke to lead 4-3 and did it again with a passing shot winner to close out the match in 62 minutes. “I like the kindness of the people here. They’re very friendly to me, just like the last time I was here,” Djokovic said. “Wherever I go, people smile and greet me. I hope to go far in the tournament for the sake of all these wonderful fans,” Djokovic said. “I was surprised by the way I played in the first set. The
,, I HOPE TO GO FAR IN THE TOURNAMENT FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THESE WONDERFUL FANS Novak Djokovic second set was a bit difficult as I couldn’t get the first serve percentage high,” said the Serb, who mimicked Paradorn Srichaphan by waving to the fans in all directions. “I got it from Paradorn who was watching me play tonight.
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“He is one of the nicest guys on the tour and we miss him,” Djokovic added. Frenchman Nicolas Mahut served and volleyed his way to an upset victory over fifthseeded Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-4 3-6 6-3. “I’m happy to have reached the quarter-finals for two years in a row. Indoor is my favourite surface,” said the 74th-ranked player. Mahut took the momentum out of Nieminen with his net play to break the Finn for a 3-2 lead in the first set. Although Nieminen fought off two set points in the 10th game, he eventually surrendered with a backhand that sailed long. A Mahut volley that found the net gave his rival a break to gain the upper-hand at 3-1. After wasting two set points,
the left-handed Nieminen blasted an ace to force the third set. Nieminen sprayed a volley long which cost him the eighth game to trail 3-5 in the decider. He lost the next four points to become the first seeded casualty of the day. Earlier, Jurgen Melzer of Austria moved past Viktor Troicki of Serbia 6-4 7-6 (7/4), and Robin Soderling of Sweden beat Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-1 6-3. In another encounter, an allGerman affair, Philipp Petzschner beat Mischa Zverev 7-6 (7/3) 3-6 6-1. In the doubles first round, Danai Udomchoke and Kittipong Wachiramanowong, the last local hopes in the tournament, went down to Robert Lindstedt of Weden and Petzschner 5-7 3-6.