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DUBAI, Feb 27: Switzerland’s Roger Federer eased into the second round of the Dubai Open Wednesday, brushing aside Romania’s Adrian Voinea 6-3 6-4.
In the last outstanding first round match, Max Mirnyi of Belarus earned a meeting with fifth-seeded Briton Tim Henman by overcoming Italy’s Renzo Furlan 7-6 6-2.
In second round action, Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer failed to follow up his opening day’s victory over Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic when he was beaten 6-4 6-2 by another Croatian, Ivan Ljubicic.
Eighth-seeded Czech Jiri Novak had little trouble eliminating Axel Pretzsch of Germany 7-5 6-1.
Sixth seeded Federer took advantage of a discouraged Voinea to reach the second round after a closely contested opening set which could have swung either way.
But a fine crosscourt backhand forced a backhand volley error from Voinea to earn a crucial break for 5-4, and Federer held off a break point in the next game to secure the set.
From that point on, Voinea grew increasingly frustrated at a number of line-call decisions that went against him, including an over-rule that gave Federer a break for 1-0 at the start of the second set.
Voinea was then far too casual as he failed to put away a volley, which Federer was able to reach and return as a backhand winner for a 3-0 lead.
It wasn’t until Federer held a break point for 5-0 that Voinea finally pulled himself back into the match, winning four of the next five games before Federer was able to close out.
RESULTS: FIRST ROUND:
Max Mirnyi (Belarus) bt Renzo Furlan (Italy) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2; Roger Federer (Switzerland) bt Adrian Voinea (Romania) 6-3 6-4
Second round: Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) bt Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) 6-4 6-2; Jiri Novak (Czech Republic) bt Axel Pretzsch (Germany) 7-5 6-1.
Gambill dispatches Vacek:
Fourth seed Jan-Michael Gambill continued his good recent form by easing to a 6-2 6-3 win over Czech Jan Vacek to move into the second round of the San Jose Open Tuesday.
Firing 11 aces, the American was never threatened on his serve while he tore apart Vacek’s second serves with some fine two-handed returns to all angles of the court.
Gambill broke into the world’s top-15 for the first time last June, but began to suffer severe tendinitis on his shoulder in August.
He took two months off to rest his shoulder and said that he probably shouldn’t have played at all after the U.S. Open.
The 24-year-old said that his arm is now functioning at 95 percent capacity and believes he can still improve.
Seventh seed Jonas Bjorkman pulled out of the tournament with flu just before the Swede was due on court against Andre Sa. The Brazilian then defeated lucky loser Noam Okun of Israel 6-4 6-0.—Reuters
