Tursunov Battles Past British Qualifier Into QFs

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Second-seeded Russian Dmitry Tursunov narrowly avoided a second round exit to British qualifier Alex Bogdanovic at the AEGON International on Wednesday. The World No. 27, ranked 162 places above Bogdanovic in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings, held his nerve to win 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(5) in two hours and 34 minutes.

The pair had previously met at The Queen’s Club in June 2006. Bogdanovic, 25, hit 14 aces and nine double faults, but could only convert one of eight break point opportunities. Tursunov, who lost in the Halle second round (l. to Kohlschreiber) last week, underwent left ankle surgery on 7 May to remove large bone spurs.

Tursunov will next challenge Uzbekistani World No. 79 Denis Istomin, who advanced to his first ATP World Tour quarter-final after knocking out sixth-seeded American Sam Querrey 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes.

Querrey, who dropped to 18-14 on the 2009 ATP World Tour season highlighted by one runner-up finish at Auckland (l. to del Potro) , hit 17 aces and won 71 per cent of service points, but could only convert one of eight break point opportunities.

Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic reached his first ATP World Tour quarter-final in 11 months (2008 Newport) after defeating British wild card James Ward 7-6(6), 6-4 in 89 minutes. Dancevic, who qualifier for the fifth ATP World Tour tournament over the weekend, upset top seed Igor Andreev on Tuesday. The World No. 126 was able to break the Ward serve three times, and he won 80 per cent of first serve points including seven aces. Ward, 22, joins Bogdanovic on the sidelines, after he failed to convert five break point opportunities.

Dancevic will now meet Argentine Leonardo Mayer in the quarter-finals at the ATP World Tour 250 grass-court tennis tournament. Mayer, a 22-year-old Argentine, improved to 7-6 on the year after knocking out Julien Benneteau of France by a 6-4, 6-4 score line in 85 minutes.