Trump threatens 50% tariffs on Brazil if it doesn't stop the Bolsonaro 'witch hunt' trial    Trump praises 'good English' of Liberian president, prompting criticism across Africa    Saudi, Hungarian defense ministers discuss military ties    Al-Rajhi: Cabinet's decision is supportive to most vulnerable groups    King Salman appoints Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as Royal Court advisor    Alkhorayef emphasizes Saudi Arabia's growing role as global industrial investment hub    Saudi Arabia adopts World Drowning Prevention Day as national health priority    GACA imposes SR2.8 million in fines for 87 civil aviation violations in Q2 2025    Desperate Gaza doctors cram several babies into one incubator as fuel crisis reaches critical point    Total e-messages sent to parties in lawsuits reach over 11.8 million during first half of 2025    3 arrested in assault case in Riyadh    New Property Ownership Law will take into effect in January 2026 Al-Hogail thanks King and Crown Prince for the updated law    HONOR returns to Esports World Cup as Official Smartphone Partner for 2025 The renewed commitment will see HONOR elevate mobile esports competition with cutting-edge AI technologies and industry-leading hardware    Riot Games responds to match-fixing allegations in VALORANT    BLAST responds to BESTIA Visa controversy ahead of CS2 Austin major    Christophe Galtier named NEOM SC head coach ahead of historic Saudi Pro League debut    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Michelin Guide launches in Saudi Arabia with phased rollout in 2025    'How fragile we are': Roskilde Festival tragedy remembered 25 years on    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Djokovic and Murray advance at Dubai event
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 23 - 02 - 2010

Defending champion Novak Djokovic and third-seeded Andy Murray advanced to the second round of the Dubai Championships Monday.
The second-seeded Serb beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 6-4, 6-4 and Murray defeated Russia's Igor Kunitsyn 6-2, 6-3 in Monday's first round of the $1.6 million tournament.
The fourth-ranked Murray had a nervous start, with the first two games lasting more than half an hour. Kunitsyn kept it tight in the third game, but Murray held on for 3-0.
The Russian player came back strongly in the next two games, holding his serve and breaking Murray to make it 3-2. But the 22-year-old Briton won the next three games and took the set with a superb forehand.
Kunitsyn started the second set well, breaking Murray in the first game. But Murray broke back immediately and then held his serve comfortably to go 2-1 up. Murray then broke Kunitsyn a second time in the sixth game and thwarted the Russian's attempts to recover by holding his serve for a commanding 5-2 lead.
Murray had to save a break point in the final game, sending down a cracking serve to get back to deuce, but Kunitsyn finally lost on an unforced error.
Earlier Monday, Djokovic broke his opponent twice in the first set and three times in the second.
Djokovic started well breaking Garcia-Lopez on his first serve to go 2-0 up, but the Spaniard broke back immediately. Games then went with serve until Garcia-Lopez, serving to stay in the set, double faulted to give Djokovic set point. The 22-year-old Serb dominated the second set and quickly took a 5-0 lead before Garcia-Lopez fought back, breaking Djokovic twice in the seventh and ninth games to make it 5-4. But Garcia-Lopez failed to hold on to his serve when it mattered most, allowing Djokovic to take the second set 6-4 and with it the match. Djokovic will play fellow Serb Victor Troicki next Wednesday. Troicki Monday won his opening match against German Rainer Schuettler, 6-3, 6-4.
Also Monday, Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus knocked out eighth-seeded Gilles Simon and advanced to the second round with a straight-sets victory over the French player 7-6 (3), 6-4.
Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia also advanced after defeating Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4.
Austrians Jurgen Melzer and Stefan Koubek advanced after both won in straight sets against Simone Bolelli of Italy and Feliciano Lopez of Spain. Melzer beat Bolelli 6-1, 7-5 and Koubek defeated Lopez 7-6, 6-4.
Ferrero makes it 2 in a row
Juan Carlos Ferrero completed a perfect two-week tour of South America with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory over fellow Spaniard and top seed David Ferrer in the Buenos Aires Open Sunday.
Former world No. 2 Ferrero, the second seed, had won the Brasil Open in Costa do Sauipe last weekend, having chosen the claycourt tournaments in South America as part of his bid to climb back up the rankings.
“This is an amazing feeling. When I left home I never imagined I'd have two weeks like these and beat such good players as David,” 2003 French Open champion Ferrero, who took his tally to 14 titles, said in a courtside interview.


Clic here to read the story from its source.