Murray Sets Djokovic Showdown
Andy Murray set up a third-round showdown with Novak Djokovic after defeating Italian Filippo Volandri 6-4, 6-1 at Masters Series Monte-Carlo Presented by Rolex Tuesday. Murray, the 14th seed, saved eight of nine break points he faced in a spirited performance.
The 20-year-old Scot has never beaten Djokovic in three career meetings against the Serb. Murray will be looking to atone for his lackluster 6-1, 6-0 loss to Djokovic when they last met in the Sony Ericsson Open semifinals in Miami last year.
Marat Safin recorded only his fourth win of the year at Masters Series Monte-Carlo Presented by Rolex Tuesday, when the former World No. 1 and wild card entrant knocked out Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-3, 6-2 in 79 minutes.
Having suffered four successive first round exits in seven ATP tournaments this year, the World No. 93 is hoping to emulate his run to the 2004 semifinals (l. to Coria).
Safin hit seven aces and converted all four break point opportunities he created against Malisse, in the pair’s first career meeting since Rotterdam in 2003. The Russian will next meet fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer. The pair has not met since Estoril in 2001.
Earlier in the day, Spanish No. 12 seed Tommy Robredo improved to 4-1 lifetime against Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka with a 6-4, 7-5 victory in one hour and 38 minutes. The 2006 quarterfinalist (l. to Gaudio) will next meet Robin Soderling of Sweden in the second round.
This season's Rotterdam semifinalist Ivo Karlovic, the No. 15 seed from Croatia, booked his place in the second round against Gael Monfils after Sebastien Grosjean retired in the third set with a left groin injury. Karlovic was leading 6-4, 4-6, 4-1, when 2001 and 2002 Monte-Carlo semifinalist Grosjean called it a day.
Igor Andreev beat Russian compatriot Dmitry Tursunov for the fifth time in six career meetings with a 7-5, 6-3 win on one hour and 38 minutes. Tursunov hit six doubles faults and won 24 of 71 points on return of serve. Andreev will look to his 2006 Dubai defeat to No. 8 seed Mikhail Youzhny in the second round on Wednesday.
Fourth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko, who retired from the Estoril Open final with a muscle strain in his left leg against Roger Federer on Sunday, will play Italian qualifier Simone Bolelli in the second round. Bolelli overcame Juan-Ignacio Chile of Argentina 6-2, 6-2 in the first match on Court Central.
Finland Jarkko Nieminen overcame French qualifier Marc Gicquel 6-0, 6-4 to set up a second round clash against 2002 and 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrer of Spain.
