Sock Seeks to Qualify for Main Draw in Miami
American Jack Sock moved into the final round of qualifying for Sony Open Tennis in Miami, coming from a set down to beat Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 in two hours and six minutes. The 20-year-old Nebraska native is bidding to play the main draw in Miami for the second time. Sock was joined in the final round by fellow Americans Steve Johnson, Rajeev Ram, Tim Smyczek and Robby Ginepri. Johnson defeated Australia’s Matthew Ebden 6-4, 7-6(5); Ram beat Diego Sebastian Schwartzman of Argentina 6-4, 6-4; Smyczek cruised past Gastao Elias 6-0 6-4; and former World No. 15 Ginepri dismissed Adrian Ungur 7-6(2), 6-2.
Four Americans fell at the first hurdle. Top seed Michael Russell fell to Brazil’s Joao Souza 6-3, 6-4; Israel’s Dudi Sela ousted Ryan Sweeting 6-4, 6-4; second seed Daniel Brands of Germany dismissed Deiton Baughman 6-2, 6-4; and another German, Matthias Bachinger, defeated Wayne Odesnik 7-6(0), 6-2.
Former world number 20 Dmitry Tursunov, who has reached the main draw fourth round twice before in Miami, came from a set down to beat Florent Serra of France 6-7(2), 5-3, 6-2 in just over two hours. The Russian, a winner of seven ATP World Tour titles, goes on to face Germany’s Bjorn Phau, who defeated Antonio Veic 6-3, 6-2. Fifth-seeded Frenchman Guillaume Rufin advanced with a close 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Uladzimir Ignatik. For a place in the main draw, Rufin will challenge Italy’s Matteo Viola, who dismissed Thiago Alves 6-3, 6-0.
Canada’s Frank Dancevic, who qualified and reached the second round in Miami last year, defeated Kenny De Schepper 6-4, 7-6(4) to set a clash with Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva, who battled past Illya Marchenko 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1).
