The trio of Roger Federer, Andy Murray and No.1 Novak Djokovic, all eased into the QFs of Dubai Championships. Federer the record 6 time winner, was slow to begin with against Fernando Verdasco. But once the Swiss Maestro found his groove, Verdsaco was no match for the 17 times Grand Slam champ. Andy Murray meanwhile literally had a walk in the park, as he barely broke sweat against Portugal’s Jaoa Sousa. Murray trouncing Sousa for the loss of just 2 games. Novak Djokovic was also equally impressive, storming past Andrey Golubev in straight sets. Over in Doha, Vika Azarenka extended her streak to 12 matches in a row, with a 3 set win over rising star: Elina Svitolina.
ATP Dubai: Day 3 Wed, 2nd rd
Murray bt Sousa: 6-0, 6-2. Federer bt Verdasco: 6-4, 6-3. Djokovic bt Golubev: 6-1, 6-2
2012 Dubai finalist (lost to Federer) Andy Murray, cantered into the last 8, with a crushing straight sets win over Jaoa Sousa.
The hapless Portuguese has never beaten Murray in 4 previous attempts. In fact he’s never even taken a single set off him- 10 straight sets lost on the bounce.
In their 5th match-up, Murray was as ruthless as he’s ever been. Right from the get go, Sousa had no chance.
In the end, 2 games was all Sousa had to show in a dismal effort against the Olympic Champion. Murray bagelling his opponent in the 2nd set, en-route to setting up a QF clash with exciting teenager- Borna Coric.
Mr Federer was also in action on day 3 and was a bit erratic at the start of his match.
His challenger Fernando Verdasco, a former top 10er, raced into a 4-1 first set lead. But the evergreen Roger soon found his footing and won 5 games on the trot (20 points in a row), for the opening set.
Verdasco clearly wasting a golden opportunity and it wouldn’t get any better for the Spaniard. An early break in the 2nd set from the Swiss legend, was more than enough to see him over the line by, 6-3.
Finally last but by no means the least- the World No1.
Djokovic like Federer, is a multiple champion in the Arab City. 5 times he has lifted the title and he’s going to take some stopping, from claiming his 6th.
It was as usual, a ruthlessly, efficient performance from the 8 times Major champion. All it took was just over an hour and 17 winners , to see him past Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev.
2nd rd results:
Marsel Ilhan (Turkey) beat 6-Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 3-6 7-5 6-3
4-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Simone Bolelli (Italy) 7-6(7) 5-7 6-0
Borna Coric (Croatia) beat Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) 6-4 3-6 6-6 (Baghdatis retired)
Richard Gasquet (France) beat 7-Roberto Bautista (Spain) 6-4 3-6 7-6(6)
Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) beat Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) 6-4 3-6 6-4
WTA Doha: Day 3 Wed, 2nd rd
Azarenka bt Svitolina: 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1
Miss Azarenka continued her comeback from countless injuries, with a great, battling win over Ukrainian- Elina Svitolina.
The Belarusian, former World No1 and 2-time AO winner- has fallen to 48 in the rankings, after an injury-marred 2014. But a 4th rd appearance in Melbourne (where she beat Wozniacki in the 2nd rd), showed promising signs, that she was slowly getting back to her best.
A two time winner in Doha, Vika was too solid for Svitolina in the first set, taking it by 6-3. She continued it into the 2nd set, where she conjured up a match-point at 5-4 .
Svitolina however bravely saved it and soon dragged Azarenka into a tie-break. Vika was powerless to stop the rising star, from levelling the match by 7 points to 4.
But she quickly forgot about her near miss in the 2nd set, by racing to victory in the final set-6-3
2nd rd results:
9-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) beat Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) 7-6(2) 6-4
Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beat Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-1
6-Andrea Petkovic (Germany) beat Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan) 5-7 6-2 6-4
3-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Alexandra Dulgheru (Romania) 6-1 3-0 (Dulgheru retired)
Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) beat 5-Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3
1-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 6-3 1-1 (Jankovic retired)
4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 6-1 6-1
World Tennis News:
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 