Dubai: Carry On Culling
Posted by gauloises1 on February 25, 2010
Not that there were many top seeds left to cull, but sixth seed Marin Cilic was the latest victim of whatever is going on in Dubai, falling to Jurgen Melzer 76(8) 75.
For a while there it looked like Novak Djokovic might join him, but fortunately he fought back against Ivan Ljubicic and ended in fine style, by bagelling him.
Next up for Nole, sole survivor of a field that looked so promising? Marcos Baghdatis, who beat Michael Berrer in straights, while Melzer faces seventh seed and perennial question mark Mikhail Youzhny.
And that is what happened today.
Full results
Singles – Quarter-finals
[2] N Djokovic (SRB) d I Ljubicic (CRO) 26 64 60
J Melzer (AUT) d [6] M Cilic (CRO) 76(8) 75
[7] M Youzhny (RUS) d J Tipsarevic (SRB) 63 64
M Baghdatis (CYP) d M Berrer (GER) 76(5) 61
Doubles – Quarter-finals
[2] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND) d A Clement (FRA) / R Lindstedt (SWE) 76(3) 61
C Kas (GER) / D Norman (BEL) d [4] F Cermak (CZE) / M Mertinak (SVK) 64 62
F Lopez (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) d J Tipsarevic (SRB) / V Troicki (SRB) 63 64
Order of Play
CENTRE COURT start 2:00 pm
J Melzer (AUT) vs [7] M Youzhny (RUS)
F Lopez (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) vs S Aspelin (SWE) / P Hanley (AUS)
Not Before 7:00 PM
M Baghdatis (CYP) vs [2] N Djokovic (SRB)
C Kas (GER) / D Norman (BEL) vs [2] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND)
AmyLu said
My only comment for Dubai is: Nole damn well better defend this title now. I wish I had confidence this was going to happen, but let’s just say I’m not brimming with it…
gauloises1 said
The thing is I just can’t believe that any of the people left in the draw would beat him … except Youzhny. Youzhny could beat him.
It feels like all the top guys have been really listless this week.
AmyLu said
Not going to lie, I’m scared of Youzhny. I love how I got over my fear of Youzhny from a Rafa perspective a year or two ago, but then I started to fear him from a Nole one. (and with Rafa’s seemingly always injured/inability to really reach top level on a hardcourt the past nine months, I’m sure that fear will be back if the two play each other in IW/Miami).
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