Ferrer Rolls at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Schiavone Saves Match Points

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Edwin Verhoef/UNICEF Open

(June 20, 2012) -- David Ferrer continued his fine grass-court form today when he defeated Leonardo Mayer 6-3, 6-1 in second-round play at the UNICEF Open. The 30-year-old Spaniard converted each of his four break points against the world No. 62 to seal a spot in the quarterfinals in exactly one hour.

World No. 6 Ferrer is a former defending champ at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, and owns a 9-1 career record at the event.

The rest of the seeds did not fare so well in second-round action today.

Third-seeded Jurgen Melzer was bounced from the draw by Tatsuma Ito of Japan in 56 minutes, 6-2, 6-2. The 70th-ranked Japanese surrendered only 11 points on his serve and didn’t face a break point all afternoon in his first career meeting against Melzer.

Eighth-seeded Lukasz Kubot of Poland also dropped out after losing a three-setter to Frenchman Benoit Paire, 6-3, 0-6, 6-4.

Ferrer, the only seed remaining in the draw, will face wildcard Igor Sijsling in the quarterfinals. The 24-year-old Amsterdam native followed up his first-round upset of Jarkko Nieminen with a 7-5, 7-6(4) victory over Belgian Olivier Rochus today. With the win Sijsling evens his record in main draw matches at 2-2 for 2012.

Schiavone Saves Match Points, Slips Past Begu

Unseeded after a precipitous drop in the rankings over the last several months, Francesca Schiavone saved eight match points in a third-set tiebreaker to squeak by 21-year-old Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(8). Schiavone, who trailed 6-0 in the third-set tiebreaker before rallying to win, was fighting herself as well. She survived a 49 percent first-serve percentage and 14 double faults to advance in two hours and twenty-four minutes.

Schiavone’s win sets up a quarterfinal clash with Kim Clijsters on Thursday.

Kirsten Flipkens followed up her first-round upset of top-seeded Sam Stosur with a 7-5, 7-6(4) edging of fellow qualifier Daria Gavrilova of Russia. Flipkens, also a qualifier, will next face Robert Vinci in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.

The 29-year-old Taranto, Italy native came back to bagel Monica Niculescu after dropping the second set to the Romanian in a tiebreaker.

Sofia Arvidsson also reached the quarterfinals today when she took out hometown favorite Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands, 6-4, 6-1.