Verdasco Makes Smooth Progress; Smyczek Celebrates

© Ron AngleTim Smyczek is through to his first tour-level quarter-final.

Top seed and defending champion Fernando Verdasco continued to make smooth progress at the SAP Open, capitalising on his two break point chances to defeat Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-5, 7-5 Thursday evening in San Jose.

“With him I think every match is pretty similar,” said Verdasco. “He serves unbelievable and then you just need to get the few chances you have with his serve… I did it today, and I’m happy because I think it’s the first time I beat him on indoor hard court.”

Verdasco is undefeated in seven matches at this ATP World Tour 250 tennis tournament, having won the title on his debut, and faces a rematch with fifth seed Denis Istomin, whom he beat in the semi-finals last year. Istomin edged American Michael Russell 7-6(7), 7-6(4) in two hours and six minutes on Thursday.

“He’s a tough player, and for sure even more in this kind of conditions, on this surface indoor hard court,” said Verdasco. “He’s a good hard court player, very good backhand, flat. He put his weight on the ball, his power, and I think he’s a pretty complete player.”

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Frenchman Gael Monfils required three sets to get by American Robert Kendrick, prevailing 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 after one hour and 46 minutes in the final match Thursday. Kendrick had pushed Monfils to five sets last year in the first round of the US Open.

Monfils served 15 aces and converted on four of eight break points against his 115th-ranked opponent to advance to his first quarter-final since his runner-up effort last year at the BNP Paribas Masters, the final stop of the regular ATP World Tour season.

American wild card Tim Smyczek reached his first ATP World Tour quarter-final as he surprised No. 8 seed Kei Nishikori of Japan  6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Smyczek, currently No. 172 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, had won just one tour-level match prior to this week.

“It’s obviously very exciting to be in my first tour-level quarter-final,” he said. “San Jose was where I first qualified for a tour event, so it’s always nice coming back here. I have some good feelings in this city. I feel like this year was a little bit more comfortable on this Stadium Court.”

The 23-year-old Wisconsin native had another reason for celebration earlier this week, with the Green Bay Packers going on to win the Super Bowl title. Smyczek said: “I think Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He’s inspirational. It was good seeing the Packers get a win and thankfully I’m still alive in the tournament here.”