Melzer Makes Strong Start, Joins Tursunov, Baghdatis In QFs

© Malaysian OpenJurgen Melzer is looking to get back on track in Kuala Lumpur.

Fourth seed Jurgen Melzer was delighted with his performance after beginning his Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2011 campaign with a resounding 6-0, 6-4 victory over South African qualifier Rik de Voest on Wednesday.

The Austrian, who is making his debut in the Malaysian capital, broke serve four times and won 86 per cent of points behind his serve for victory in 63 minutes. "I started really well," said the left-hander. "The first set was one of the best sets I’ve played all year for sure. I’m feeling really good here, hopefully it can continue. The conditions are very slow but if you have enough power it can give you a little more time to set up for your shots and go for some winners, which is nice for my game."

World No. 21 Melzer has struggled for form in recent weeks, not winning back-to-back ATP World Tour matches since July, when he reached the Hamburg quarter-finals (l. to Verdasco). He improved to a 20-19 match record on the season.

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Seventh seed Dmitry Tursunov reached his third ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season as he defeated Belgian wild card David Goffin 6-3, 6-3 in 83 minutes. The Russian, who won his seventh ATP World Tour title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (d. Dodig) in June, is bidding to lift the Bangkok trophy for the second time this week after victory in 2007 (d. Becker).

Former Top 10 star Marcos Baghdatis, a wild card entry this week, successfully negotiated a potentially tricky clash against Indian Somdev Devvarman with a 7-5, 6-4 win in one hour and 46 minutes. It was the pair's third meeting this season (also BNP Paribas Open and Legg Mason Tennis Classic).

"I started okay, but I was a bit impatient at 3-3 in first set when he broke my serve," said Baghdatis. "I tried to just keep ball in court, stay in the points for longer and I managed to break him twice to take the first set. It's tough conditions here, very slow and you have to work the point and just find a way to win. I'm looking forward to the next one and trying to find the solutuon to win."

Italian Flavio Cipolla got the better of fast-rising Australian teenager Bernard Tomic, defeating the Wimbledon quarter-finalist 6-2, 6-2. World No. 96 Cipolla claimed just his fourth tour-level win of the season in 72 minutes as he saved five of the six break points he faced and broke the No. 59-ranked Tomic on five occasions. He goes onto face third seed Janko Tipsarevic, who received a bye through the first round.