Estoril Open 2007 News and Events

Novak Djokovic
© João Lagos Sports

Serbian Novak Djokovic, currently a career-high No. 5 in the ATP Rankings, sailed into the quarterfinals of the 18th Estoril Open on Wednesday.

The third seed knocked out Spanish qualifier Santiago Ventura 6-2, 6-2 in just 56 minutes. The result means Djokovic leads the ATP circuit with 28 match wins this year.

He has won two ATP titles in Adelaide (d. Guccione) and ATP Masters Series Miami (d. Canas) this year, in addition to a final appearance at ATP Masters Series Indian Wells (l. to Nadal).

The 19-year-old will next meet Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who cruised past No. 6 seed Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 6-4, 6-3 in 68 minutes. Garcia-Lopez also reached the Delray Beach quarterfinals (l. to Malisse) in February.

Casablanca champion Paul-Henri Mathieu became the first player into the quarterfinals when he beat Igor Kunitsyn of Russia 6-2, 6-1 in 81 minutes.

Mathieu, who clinched his third career ATP title over Albert Montanes in Morocco last week, extends his unbeaten streak to seven matches.

He is now 17-8 for the season and will next meet Juan Monaco, the Buenos Aires winner in February, who defeated American Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in 92 minutes.

There were no matches on court between 1:15pm and 4:45pm local time, as torrential rain forced players undercover.

Upon the resumption of play, two first round matches featuring the top-two seeds, ATP World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko and No. 7 Tommy Robredo took to the show courts.

French qualifier Olivier Patience stunned Davydenko 7-5, 6-1 for a second career victory over the Russian in 78 minutes.

Last year’s runner-up and 2003 titlist Davydenko retired with a wrist injury in Barcelona last week prior to his quarterfinal against Guillermo Canas of Argentina.

Davydenko now has a 17-11 record this year, having last won an ATP title at ATP Masters Series Paris in November 2006.

Meanwhile, Robredo fought back from a 4-1 first set deficit against Spanish compatriot Albert Montanes – the Casablanca runner-up – for a 6-4, 6-3 win.

Robredo, who reached the Auckland final (l. to Ferrer) in January, improves to 17-9 this year with his third ATP-level victory over Montanes.

Robredo will next meet countryman Alberto Martin in the second round.

ESTORIL OPEN RE-CAP
Tuesday: Mathieu Continues Hot Streak
Monday: Djokovic Edges Andreev in Epic Battle
Sunday: Querrey, Kunitsyn Win into Second Round