Nadal, Djokovic, Roddick reach 2nd round at Dubai
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-05 16:47
Updated: 2008-03-05 16:47
 Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after winning his match against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber at the ATP Dubai Tennis Championships, March 4, 2008. [Agencies] |
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic succeeded where Roger Federer failed at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Nadal and Djokovic each advanced to the second round Tuesday, a day after the top-ranked Federer extended his losing streak to two in a row.
"You play the first round like you'd play a quarterfinals," Nadal said after struggling to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. "It was a tough match.
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Djokovic, who eliminated Federer from the Australian Open semifinals in the Swiss player's previous match, advanced by defeating Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-4, 6-3. Andy Roddick also won, beating Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 6-2, 6-4.
Federer, who is still looking for his 13th Grand Slam title, lost to Andy Murray on Monday in the first round.
"Roger is starting to lose more and more," Djokovic said. "Now, players have started to believe they can win."
Djokovic, who beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Australian Open final, was happy to survive in Dubai, where many players had tough draws.
"It's always good to go through the first round in straight sets," said the Serb, who won after Cilic had saved two match points.
Roddick finished his match with 18 aces, including one that reached 237 kph (147 mph). In the second set, he won a game with four straight aces.
"That's as well as I've served," Roddick said. "It was a really good first match."
Roddick arrived in Dubai on Monday after playing in Memphis, Tennessee, last week.
"It's like a paid vacation," Roddick said of Dubai. "It's weird. It's like Star Wars. ... We're not as inventive back home."
Eighth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic also advanced, beating Gael Monfils of France 6-3, 6-2.
Mikhail Ledovskikh of Russia, Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, Olivier Rochus of Belgium and Feliciano Lopez of Spain also reached the second round.
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