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(Sunrise, FL) - Four tournament seeds advanced to the quarter finals Thursday at the BMW Tennis Championship – No. 1 Fernando Gonzalez, No. 3 Potito Starace, No. 5 Janko Tipsarevic and No. 6 Sebastian Grosjean. FERNANDO GONZALEZ (CHI) vs. KRISTOF VLIEGEN (BEL) In Thursday night’s feature match, a stadium packed with Gonzo fans gathered under a hazy full moon to see world number 12 Fernando Gonzalez carve up 73-ranked Kristof Vliegen. They got their money’s worth in a three-set thriller. Gonzalez’s revamped all-court game was apparent from the start of the match, from his elegant deep slices to rushes into the net, where he put away decisive volleys; to delicate drop shots backed by pin-point passing shots. This from a guy who a few years ago was known for stalking the winner every time he stepped up to the ball, preferably ripping his signature forehand. Belgian Kristof Vliegen broke Gonzalez’s first service game to go up 2-0 in the first set. Gonzo immediately broke back and held service to get the score to four games all. The Chilean broke one more time to win the first set 6-4, punctuated by vibrant cheers of “Vamos!” and “Viva Chile!” from the large group of South American fans on the stadium’s east side, festooned with Chilean flags. In the second set, Gonzalez opened with a love service game, sealing it with a beautiful backhand slice to the deuce corner. In the next couple of games, Gonzo showcased his shot variety, at one point dropping the ball short then following it with a lob that clipped the back of Vliegen’s baseline. Serving at 2-3, backing up two solid service winners, Gonzalez moved in, sliced another dropper, forcing the Belgian to crowd the net – then passing him expertly to win that game at love. It was obvious that finesse rather than power was going to win the match – something not often said about the fiery Chilean. In the next game Gonzalez broke Vliegen’s serve. Looking comfortably in the lead at 5-4 he appeared ready to serve it out, stepping up to the service line before the music died out over the intercom. But Vliegen had other ideas. Gonzo hit a big first serve but the return came back with interest, and he hit out on the next shot. Vliegen followed that up with three winner service returns, and held at love. Serving at 5-all, Vliegen capitalized on a string of Gonzalez errors, probing the Chilean’s backhand relentlessly. On game point at 40-15, the chair umpire over-ruled a Vliegen serve a linesman had called out and he went up 6-5. Gonzalez held serve next to bring up the tiebreak. The breaker was somewhat lop-sided, with Vliegen serving well, firing two aces in the sequence with none for Gonzalez, who seemed more intent on placing the serve instead of going for big power. Vliegen won it 7-2. The South American-infused crowd came to life in the third set, roaring for Gonzo on every point. Gonzalez for his part reverted to “what works” - massive forehands, ripping relentless winners every time he got his racket on the ball from the baseline; and serving much bigger. Returning the first set favor, he broke early to go up 3-0. Vliegen held his next service game, finishing with an ace. Vliegen broke back at 4-2, after reaching two deuces in a big-hitting baseline game; then held serve for 4 games all. Gonzalez faced a tough hold in his next service game, going down love-30, then recovering to win. He broke Vliegen in the final game at 15-40 to win the set 6-4, and the match 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4. Afterwards Gonzalez acknowledged (almost apologetically) to the crowd that he had given them a scare - but many were left with the sense that Gonzo is also working on his game here at the BMW Tennis Championship, hitting shots and working strategies under pressure that take him out of his comfort zone, as preparation for the competition he may face from top ten players at Miami next week. Gonzalez plays big-serving Australian Chris Guccione tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the quarters. By the Numbers: ROBIN HAASE (NED) vs. ANDREAS SEPPI (ITA)
Haase, currently ranked 82, had already taken out former top 20 Dominik Hrbaty in the second round; Seppi had beaten Russian qualifier Artem Sitak. Italy’s No. 2 player Andreas Seppi is currently ATP-ranked No. 40, and anytime you play a guy who’s double your ranking points, it’s a challenge. Windy conditions made the task even more difficult. “When I warmed up today it wasn’t windy at all, so I thought well for the first time it’s not windy here and the matches will be better,” Haase said. “But actually as the match started it was windy again so I started off not that good, I got broken immediately. He was on top of me the whole first set. I had break points but I couldn’t break him. And then in the second set I felt a little more confident. I went more for my shots, I hit some drop shots, I had him run some more and when I had the break I felt that I was in front of him, on top of him, I had the better chances and I won today.” Haase dropped the first set and was out-aced in the first two sets 7-4. During the first two sets Seppi misfired on 43 unforced errors while Haase had 35; Haase had three double faults to Seppi's one in the first two sets. But Haase started to consider the wind his friend in the second set, working it to his advantage. “When you have the wind in your back it’s easier to hit a fast shot and then he has to, of course he has to go back and on the other side when I had the wind against me I just tried to smack the ball as hard as I could sometimes, just to force him two meters behind the baseline so I could get in.” The momentum swung to Haase all throughout the second and third sets, and he fought off three break points to win the third, closing out the match with a service ace to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. It was a satisfying victory for the Dutchman. “It’s always a good win if you beat someone in the top 40,” He said after the match. “I lost to him last year, so I know how his game is so he’s a difficult player. I know he beat Rafael Nadal this year, Lleyton Hewitt, so he’s playing a good game, but I’m confident too, I made three quarters already, ATP events this year, qualified at the Australian open and won a round, so I feel good at the moment.” Last year the No. 1 Dutchman won a career-best 13 matches and advanced to his first ATP semifinal at Wrexham, England. He also qualified at the Sony Ericsson in Miami but lost to Juan Monaco in the first round – same way he went out at Indian Wells this year. “My goal last year was to be in the top 100, and if you’re in the top 100 you’re good. I mean nowadays, the top 300 is good,” he said. “A lot of players can beat really top guys and that’s why you see also at the grand slams, it’s okay maybe Roger and Nadal, and some other guys, let’s say the top ten they are coming far but after that all the guys can lose to each other so it’s really difficult but I think it’s only good for tennis that so many players can beat everyone. And it makes it more attractive than, instead of one guy winning all.” Haase has a physical trainer here this week, working with him on movement and strength. “I think there’s a lot of improvement there, and I think if I get stronger that will help my game and I can hit the ball harder than I do now. My goal this year is to be in the top 50. I’m now 80 so it’s going well. I think if I keep going like this I will succeed in that.” For now, he’s enjoying the BMWTC, where he can play a strong field and have hopes of winning a round or two. “This year it’s even stronger than last year,” Haase said. “Last year there were unbelievable names but this year, I mean you have to be in the top 100 to play a Challenger and normally if you’re top 100 in a Challenger you’re seeded. So when you win here it’s almost like winning an ATP event. I mean, there are even top 20 guys, so it’s really nice to play here, it’s good players, it’s nice conditions, sometimes a little bit too much wind but that’s how it is. I like to be here.” Next up for Haase – a quarterfinal match on Friday against the tournament’s No. 5 seed Janko Tipsarevic. “He’s also an unbelievable good player, has no real weaknesses, so it’s going to be a tough game tomorrow again but I hope I can keep up what I’m doing now, keep the confidence and I’ll have my chances. The first round was also good against Hrbaty. I know he’s been injured for a while but it’s still tough to play him so I have two good wins and of course as a tennis player you want more.”
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN (FRA) vs KEI NISHIKORI (JPN) When teenage sensation Kei Nishikori of Japan squared off with No. 6 seed Sebastien Grosjean Thursday afternoon, it was clear the veteran had a few lessons to teach. Both are under six feet, smallish by today’s tour standards, but both also have huge forehands. 29-year-old Grosjean may be a step slower than the speedy 18-year old, but he made up for it in solid defense and strategy.
Grosjean broke Nishikori’s serve in his first service game of the third set, then consolidated the break. Nishikori held at 0-2; followed by a hold at love by Grosjean. With the Frenchman serving at 3-2, the two traded drop shots, with Nishikori tracking a great one down at high speed, but Grosjean netting the reply. Next point, Grosjean dropped another one with Nishikori behind the baseline as if to say – try this one. The youngster’s feet weren’t quite fast enough. A couple of big serves got Grosjean to 40-15 and the game ended with a huge Grosjean overhead off a weak Nishikori lob. Nishikori’s service game went to deuce, but after a hard-hitting rally on game point he held on. Grosjean’s service at 4-3 also went to deuce, with Nishikori pinning the ad corner with a particularly brilliant backhand at 40-30, leaping at least a foot off the court. On game point, Grosjean returned the favor with his own leaping forehand, pinning the deuce corner. Nishikori survived three deuces in his next game, but Grojean was able to serve it out, finishing with an ace to win the encounter 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4. Grosjean faces No. 3 seed Potito Starace of Italy in the quarter finals on Friday. IVO MINAR (CZE) vs. IGOR KUNITSYN (RUS) Breaking his opponent in the seventh game of the first set, Kunitsyn was at 4-3. Minar broke back to even it at 4-4. Minar maintained the momentum and took the next two games with a hold and a break. Kunitsyn served at over 80% for first serves, compared to Minar’s 43%. Minar had a total of seven aces, five in the second set, and hit eight winners. He went on to break in the second and fourth games and took the second set 6-1. Minar defeated Kunitzyn 6-4, 6-1. OTHER MATCHES In other second-round matches, Jurgen Melzer (AUT) defeated Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE), 6-1, 6-2; Chris Guccione (AUS) prevailed over Rainer Schuettler (GER) and No. 3 seed Potito Starace (ITA) eliminated Carlos Berlocq (ARG). For complete results, please check our results page, updated several times daily. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: J. C. Summerford |
BMWTC 2007 finalist and this year’s No. 4 seed Andreas Seppi faced 21-year-old Robin Haase of the Netherlands on Court 9 Thursday afternoon. 
In the first set, the powerful Nishikori forehand was mis-firing, producing errors; and Grosjean won it easily 6-2. The second set was neck and neck, with Nishikori changing up his game plan a bit, coming forward more to put short balls away. The set got to a tiebreak. Grosjean was serving with more pace, but Nishikori got more first serves in, using them to set up the point. The teenager won that set 7-6 (6). 
