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| October 21, 2005 | Friday | Ramzan 16, 1426 |
Mauresmo beaten by Sloveninan qualifier
ZURICH, Oct 20: Amelie Mauresmo suffered her second defeat in two weeks after she was humbled 6-2 6-0 by Slovenian qualifier Katarina Srebotnik at the Zurich Open. The French second seed was overwhelmed by an opponent who had not claimed a set from Mauresmo in their previous three meetings.
Last week in Moscow, Mauresmo was beaten 6-1 6-1 in her opening match by Francesca Schiavone.
Mauresmo began with an ace but lost her way very quickly and surrendered her opening service game with a forehand error.
Looking flat, she allowed 43rd-ranked Srebotnik to dictate play.
A backhand volley gave her a second break for 4-1 and she closed out the first set with an easy forehand winner.
With Mauresmo continuing to struggle in the second set, Srebotnik romped to a commanding 3-0 lead before she completed the one-sided win.
Later, Lindsay Davenport saved two match points to beat Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 3-6 7-5 6-2 and reach the quarterfinals.
The American’s victory means she will begin an 85th week as the world number one on Monday.
It will be her eighth period as the top-ranked player after first claiming the spot in October 1998.
Second round results: Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) bt Amelie Mauresmo (France) 6-2 6-0; Flavia Pennetta (Italy) bt Sesil Karatantcheva (Bulgaria) 5-7 6-1 6-3; Ana Ivanovic (Serbia and Montenegro) bt Jelena Jankovic (Serbia and Montenegro) 6-2 6-1; Lindsay Davenport (United States) bt Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 3-6 7-5 6-2.
MADRID: Second seed Andy Roddick was knocked out of the Madrid Masters in his first match as he lost 3-6 7-6 7-6 to big serving Croat Ivo Karlovic on Wednesday.
Karlovic, the tallest player on the ATP circuit at 2.08 metres, set out his stall with six straight aces in his first two service games before Roddick capitalised on his opponent’s errors to break and take the first set.
The second set went with serve, however, and Karlovic took the tiebreak 9-7 with his booming serves and reach at the net constantly unsettling the American.
The story was repeated in the third set and the Croat won the second tiebreak 7-3 to wrap up victory in the second round match. He now plays 14th seed Dominik Hrbaty.
Top seed Rafael Nadal overcame Romania’s Victor Hanescu 7-6 6-3 in his opening match to book a place in the next round.
World number two Nadal started slowly, perhaps showing the effects of the tendonitis he has been suffering in his knees, and Hanescu broke his serve in the first game.
The Spaniard had to work hard to break back in the sixth game and then recovered from 3-0 down to win the tiebreak 7-5.
Nadal stepped up a gear in the second set and two breaks of serve brought him victory.
He is guaranteed a third round tie against another Spaniard with Carlos Moya and the 13th-seed Tommy Robredo meeting later on Wednesday.
Gaston Gaudio’s miserable run of form continued after he became the first seed to tumble out of the tournament earlier in the day following a 7-6 6-2 defeat by Jose Acasuso.
Acasuso won the all-Argentine duel with the seventh seed to earn a third round match against Czech Radek Stepanek, who edged out British number one Tim Henman 6-4 1-6 6-3.
Fourth seed Guillermo Coria, who has reached two Masters Series finals before losing both to Nadal, stayed alive with a 6-3 6-4 win over Christophe Rochus and will meet Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez.
Ninth seed Thomas Johansson of Sweden disposed of Juan Ignacio Chela 7-6 6-3 in his second round.
Thursday’s results (third round): David Ferrer bt Mariano Puerta 6-7 6-1 6-4; Ivo Karlovic bt Dominik Hrbaty 7-6 7-6; Radek Stepanek bt Jose Acasuso 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(5); Robby Ginepri bt Nikolay Davydenko 6-3 7-5; David Nalbandian bt Thomas Johansson 6-3 7-5.—Agencies
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