Estoril Open 2007 News and Events

Novak Djokovic
© AFP/Getty Images

Third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic narrowly avoided a first round exit at the Estoril Open Tuesday, when the Serbian struggled to beat Igor Andreev of Russian 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(5) in two hours and 43 minutes.

Djokovic moved up one place to a career-high No. 5 in the ATP Rankings today.

He improves to 27-6 this year to join Rafael Nadal (27-5) as an ATP match-wins leader this season. ATP World No. 2 Nadal beat Djokovic in the ATP Masters Series Indian Wells final in Miami.

The 19-year-old Djokovic has won two ATP titles at Adelaide (d. Guccione) and ATP Masters Series Miami (d. Canas) in the first four months of the season.

Andreev drops to 10-11 this year, as he continues his comeback from knee surgery. The 23-year-old reached the Vina del Mar quarterfinals (l. to Horna) in February.

Djokovic will next meet Spanish qualifier Santiago Ventura, who knocked out Sergio Roitman of Argentina 7-5, 6-2 in 83 minutes. Ventura, who reached the Valencia semifinals (l. to Almagro) three weeks ago, is now 4-1 in 2007.

Eighth-seeded Gael Monfils crashed out to Juan Monaco of Argentina 7-5, 1-6, 6-2 in one hour and 48 minutes on Centre Court.

Monaco, who clinched his maiden ATP title in Buenos Aires (d. di Mauro) two months ago, will next meet American Sam Querrey.

The 23-year-old improves to 13-7 this season. He has also reached quarterfinals in Auckland, Costa Do Sauipe and Houston.

Monfils had beaten Monaco en route to his maiden ATP title in Sopot, Poland, in August 2005.

The 20-year-old Frenchman is winless on the ATP circuit since reaching the Australian Open third round (l. to Gasquet) in January. He is now 3-9 for the year.

Elsewhere, Argentine Juan Martin del Potro recorded a first career win over Alejandro Falla of Columbia 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 48 minutes to avenge his first round loss at the US Open in August 2006.

The 18-year-old del Potro is No. 63 in the ATP Rankings with a 14-8 match record this year.

Portuguese wild card Frederico Gil, who was beaten by eventual champion David Nalbandian in the quarterfinals last year, delighted local support by advancing to the second round with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain.

ESTORIL OPEN RE-CAP
Sunday: Querrey, Kunitsyn Win into Second Round