Berrer Stuns Ljubicic; Dodig Begins Zagreb Title Defence

© PBZ Zagreb IndoorsIvan Dodig defeated Marsel Ilhan to open his Zagreb title defence Wednesday.

World No. 105 Michael Berrer stunned top seed Ivan Ljubicic at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors Wednesday, knocking out the home favourite 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.

Berrer, the runner-up the past two years, broke Ljubicic for the third time in the ninth game of the second set, and served out the victory at love to advance in one hour and 25 minutes. The two were meeting for the first time.

The 31-year-old German, aiming to win his first ATP World Tour title, will face Jurgen Melzer in the quarter-finals. Former World No. 8 Melzer, a qualifier this week in Zagreb, saved five of six break points and hit nine aces to beat fifth seed Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-2, 6-3.

"I need to play matches before Davis Cup to gain confidence," said Melzer. "In the first two qualification rounds, I was still jet-lagged having come from Australia on Wednesday night. It was a very good decision to come here to play, as I'd only be training back in Vienna. I am very happy with the way I am playing at the moment, not quite as I was in 2010, but I don't think you should compare."

Defending champion Ivan Dodig began his quest for a second title, edging Marsel Ilhan 7-6(5), 7-5 in the first round.

Dodig fired 21 aces and won 88 per cent of his first serve points. The No. 4 seed converted the lone break of serve in the 11th game of the second set, and consolidated to close out the match in two hours and four minutes.

Read Dodig: 'Determined To Succeed' In DEUCE Extra!

By virtue of Dodig's victory, all eight seeds advanced to the second round for the first time in tournament history.

The Croat will play Guillermo Garcia-Lopez for a place in the quarter-finals. Garcia-Lopez knocked out British qualifier Daniel Evans 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. Evans, 21, is now 0-10 in ATP World Tour-level play.

Dutch seventh seed Robin Haase reached the last eight by defeating Matthias Bachinger 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3 in just under two hours. Haase hit eight aces to Bachinger's nine aces.

Israel's Dudi Sela saved five of seven break points to beat Andreas Beck of Germany 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 47 minutes.

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