Saturday February 2, 2013
Errani and Safarova have it so easy in march to quarters
PARIS: Top-seeded Sara Errani of Italy had little trouble reaching the Paris Open quarter-finals on Thursday, leading 4-0 in the first set when Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia retired with a stomach complaint.
Errani will meet Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain in the last eight, after she upset eighth-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3.
There were other second-round upsets, with Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens beating No. 4 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 7-5, 6-4, and Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic defeating Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-4, 6-4.
Bertens next plays No. 6 Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, after she got the better of Alize Cornet of France 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Mladenovic takes on No. 2 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals.
n Meanwhile, US No.1 John Isner says the knee trouble that kept him out of the Australian Open is behind him and he’s “ready to go” for this weekend’s Davis Cup tie against Brazil in Florida.
The World Group first-round tie with American Sam Querrey taking on Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci. Then Isner will take on Thiago Alves.
“My knee hasn’t been bothering me,” said Isner, ranked 16th in the world. “I feel like I’m ready to go.”
Isner, who lives in Tampa and played his college tennis at nearby Georgia, is looking forward to having the home crowd support behind him and his teammates.
“I’ve always flown over an ocean to go play Davis Cup. This tie I just got in my car and drove three hours,” he said. “I do feel at home here. Hopefully I can get some USA chants, but Georgia chants also would be accepted on my part.”
After the singles, the US sends the formidable doubles duo of brothers Bob and Mike Bryan against Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares.
The Bryan twins captured a record 13th men’s doubles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last week.
The reverse singles call for Isner to take on Bellucci and world No.20 Querrey to face Alves on the indoor hardcourt at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Isner is 5-5 in his career Davis Cup singles - all on clay and all on the road.
Querrey is just 1-5 in Davis Cup singles, and just like his towering compatriot Isner, he’s never played a home tie.
The US won the international team trophy 32 times, but fell to Spain in the semi-finals at Gijon last year.
The winner of this tie advance to face the winner of Serbia vs Belgium in the quarter-finals in April. — Agencies
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