Results - Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Healey Delivers

Nathan Healey (AUS) rallied in the first set after going down a service break, then hung on to win a second set that featured 7 service breaks to defeat Lukas Dlouhy (CZE), 7-5, 6-4. Dlouhy broke Healey's serve at 2 all in the first set, and was serving for the set at 5-4, when Healey broke back to get the set back on serve. The rest of the set was all Healey, Dlouhy was able to win only 5 points in those final 4 games. In the second set Healey broke early to take a 2-0 lead, but Dlouhy immediately broke back to begin a barrage of service breaks. Dlouhy came in to the L G & T Tennis Challenger as the number 6 seed. This match was full of exciting points and both players demonstrated enthusiasm and it lifted the crowd's interest. One might even say the players traded individual triumphs in the 2nd sets. Dlouhy got upset in the middle of the 2nd, when apparently a ball entered the very far side of the court. He appeared to be pointing towards that, but it was unconfirmed and the chair did not replay the point, apparently on the basis that it was either after the point was over or not truly on the court. Dlouhy was distracted though, and it was in the middle of the set.

Healey "put on some miles" in this match as his fan entourage may say that a contributing factor to the result was Healey's obvious desire to chase down everything, get everything back, and do all he can to win. Think of Healey as a young Hewitt, as far as enthusiastic, but Healey remains classy and respectful. That is entertaining, on top of the world class tennis.

Widom Defeats Berankis in Feature Match

In the feature match tonight, Todd Widom, (USA) defeated the highly touted 2007 top junior player in the world, Ricardas Berankis, 7-5 (5), 6-4. The match, which lasted nearly 2 ½ hours, had only the single service break in the second set. Late in the 1st set, Berankis served a game that had 12 deuces, which highlighted the pressure on his serve but Widom had 5 backhand errors in that stretch and the break point opportunities were wasted. Berankis displayed his quickness and power, but also his youth, and time will tell if he has the goods to be a top level ATP player. Widom had a trainer treat his knee just after he took the 1st set. He made it obvious that it was bothering him, to the point where fans may have questioned if he was going to retire. Berankis had opportunities in the beginning of that 2nd set when the knee was bothering Widom the most, but Berankis didn't capitalize on break points.

Chris Klingemann continued his role and defeated Scott Oudsema (USA) 6-4, 6-4. Chris is a qualifier with a relatively short and low key career so far, this is a highlight for sure. Oudsema, the former 2006 singles champion and reigning doubles champion, gained entry as a wild card.

In other singles action today:

  • Brendan Evans (USA) defeated Antonio Ruiz-Rosales (MEX) 6-3, 6-3
  • Luigi D'AGord (ITA) defeated Lukas Rosol (CZE) 6-2, 7-5
    Rosol was the number 3 seed, D'Agord won a spot in the main draw after qualifying
  • Ryler De Heart (USA) defeated Tomas Zib (CZE) 6-0, 6-4
  • Alberto Francis (USA) defeated Richard Bloomfield (GBR) 5-1, (Ret.)
  • Ilia Bozoljac (SRB) defeated Victor Estrella (DOM) 6-1, 6-2.
    Bozoljac is the number 2 seed.
  • Rajeev Ram(USA) defeated Gastao Elias (POR) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
    Elias moved into the main draw as a LL (Lucky Loser) when Scoville Jenkins withdrew from the tournament.
  • Carsten Ball (AUS) defeated Peter Polansky (CAN) 6-2, 6-3