By Erik Gudris | Sunday, March 9, 2014
Tomas Berdych became the highest seed to exit so far at the BNP Paribas Open at the hands of Robert Bautista Agut. John Isner remains the last American man standing.
Photo Credit: Corleve
As the No. 4 seed at this year's BNP Paribas Open, Tomas Berdych appeared poised to make another deep run at an event. After all, the lanky Czech entered having won 16 out of his last 19 matches this season.
When Berdych took the first set over Spain's Robert Bautista Agut in their second round match, the Czech looked ready to wrap up an easy win. Instead, Berdych found himself in a long duel largely contested from the baseline.
Bautista Agut, ranked No. 53 in the world, proved himself earlier in the year when he knocked out Juan Martin Del Potro en route to reaching the Australian Open fourth round. The Spaniard proved that result was no fluke after he took the second set from Berdych and then went up an early break in the third.
Berdych for his part never quite looked like himself as he routinely missed easy forehands and found himself unable to hit through his opponent. Berdych managed to climb back to 4-all in the final set after getting the better of Bautista Agut in some tentative rallies.
But Berdych stumbled, literally, in the next game and gave the break right back. With Bautista Agut serving for it at 5-4, Berdych would once again hold a break point that he would squander after netting a forehand.
That would be how the contest would end a few points later when Berdych would once again net a forehand down match point. Bautista Agut celebrated the 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory that is now his third career top ten win.
Berdych later summed up the whole thing on Twitter with this message.
With Berdych gone and the earlier withdrawal by Del Potro due to his wrist issue, this section of the draw is now wide open.
Isner Advances Over Davydenko to Reach Third Round
No. 12 John Isner finds himself the last American man left in the draw after so many of his fellow U.S players exited on Saturday. Going up against Russian veteran Nikolay Davydenko, Isner probably expected a tough fight.
He got just that in the opening set as Davydenko saved all four break points against him. With Davydenko unable to even get a break chance of his own, the set wound up an inevitable tiebreak.
As local fans sitting in Stadium 2 starting a "USA! USA!" chant, that appeared to inspire Isner who hit a remarkable low volley to earn a set point. With a pair of huge crosscourt forehands, Isner soon celebrated taking the set 7-6(5).
Isner would relax in the second set after securing a break of serve for 3-1. Never facing a break point against him all afternoon, Isner closed out the 7-6(5), 6-3 victory to the delight of the fans.
Next for Isner will be a rematch of January's Auckland final as he will take on Yen-Hsun Lu. Lu earlier upset No. 22 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-2.