ATP Madrid: Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka advance. Djere tops del Potro
The 6th seed and a former Madrid finalist Kei Nishikori had to work hard in the opening match at Caja Magica, ousting a qualifier Hugo Dellien 7-5, 7-5 in two hours and one minute, securing the 99th Masters 1000 win. Dellian became the first Bolivian player with a win at this level and fought bravely against the Japanese as well, fending off 19 out of 24 break points to stay in touch until the closing stages of both sets. On the other hand, Kei suffered three breaks of serve and had to dig deep after a perfect start, opening a 5-1 advantage and wasting five set points to keep Dellien in contention.
Hugo bounced back to 5-5 and it all came down to his service game when Nishikori converted the eighth break chance for a 6-5 lead, closing the opener with a hold in the next game after precisely an hour. They traded breaks in games nine and ten in set number two before Kei grabbed another one, just like in the opener, sealing the deal with a hold at love for a 7-5 and the place in the next round. After an impressive start, another former finalist Stan Wawrinka took down one of the best players in 2019 so far Guido Pella 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 29 minutes, clinching the 148th Masters 1000 win.
The Swiss saved all five break points and had the advantage in the more advanced rallies to score one break in each set and book the place in the third round. Stan moved ahead with a break in game four and blasted an ace at 5-3 to secure the opener after 35 minutes. Wawrinka saved all three break points in set number two, earning a break at 4-4 after a forehand winner and moving over the top in the next game after saving a break point. Frances Tiafoe overpowered the German veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in an hour and 51 minutes, taking four straight games in the opening set and dominating in the decider after losing only three points on serve, forging a 3-0 lead and bringing it home to set Rafael Nadal clash on Thursday.
Jeremy Chardy needed just 59 minutes to dismiss Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-2, saving all three break points and stealing the rival's serve four times to control the scoreboard all the time. Competing for the first time since Delray Beach, Juan Martin del Potro lost to Laslo Djere 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in two hours and 22 minutes, wasting a match point at 5-4 in the decider. Laslo saved all five break points in the final set, including that one in the tenth game with a volley winner, breaking at 15 at 5-5 and holding at 15 for a 7-5 and one of the best wins in his career.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2VcNEoO
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