Tipsarevic and Monfils Among Those Advancing at the Thailand Open
September 26, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
World number nine-ranked Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia advanced to the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open in Bangkok, defeating Japanese qualifier Hiroki Moriya 6-4, 6-4. Tipsarevic is looking to boost his chances of qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with a strong showing in the ATP World Tour Asian Swing. The Belgrade native is currently ninth in the Race to London, with the top eight to qualify for the Final Showdown in London in November.
Gael Monfils of France continued his comeback to the ATP World Tour as he battled into the second round with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Kevin Anderson of South Africa. Both players broke serve four times and won 98 points each in the close contest that lasted two hours and 25 minutes. Monfils returned last week with a semifinal showing at the Moselle Open in Metz.
Also moving on was seventh-seeded Jarkko Nieminen who reached the quarterfinals after defeating Germany’s Philipp Petzschner 7-6(1), 6-2. Nieminen broke serve five times from 13 opportunities as he wrapped up the win in 88 minutes.
Also moving on was Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, now ranked 80th in the world. He won 76 percent of his service points and hit nine aces past Marinko Matosevic of Australia, in a 6-3, 6-4 victory, for a second-round meeting against third-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic. Japan’s Go Soeda will face fourth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon in the second round after defeating Thai wild card Danai Udomchoke 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 51 minutes.
