Skip to main content

Tennis: Top Seeds Almagro To Take On Asian Sole Survivor In Quarter-final

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29(Bernama) -- Top seeds Nicholas Almagro of Spain reached the quarter-final of 2011 ATP Malaysia Open tennis championship held at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil here Thursday night.

The world number 11 edged out his countryman Albert Ramos 7-6(2), 7-6(4) in a tense second round match that lasted an hour and 43 minutes.

"It was a tough match. We had practiced together before in Barcelona a few weeks ago, so I know his game and I think Ramos is going to be one of the important players from Spain," Alamagro told the media after the game.

Almagro, who will take on eight seeded Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarter-final match tomorrow, said he would try his best to get past the Japanese player for a place in the semifinal.

Meanwhile, Nishikori, who defeated Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in a stiff match earlier, became the last standing Asian player in the tournament.

Commenting on his game against Petzschner, Nishikori admitted he was struggling with the German's tries and powerful services.

"He served really well so I tried to play more aggresive and it worked. This win means a lot to me," said the 21-year old who is also the highest ranked Asian player in the ATP World Tour List (currently ranked 54).

During the tournament last year, Nishikori who got in as wildcard, was booted out in the first round.

Other seeded players who made it to quarter-final includes Victor Troicky of Serbia (second seeded) who will battle Dmitry Tursunov of Russia (seventh seeded) and Jurgen Melzer of Austria (fourth seeded) who is to take on Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.

-- BERNAMA

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ex-coach's jail sentence cut to a year

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...

Govt Always Gives Emphasis To Sporting Culture, Says PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,...

Chance to catch Messi and company

  FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and vice president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin with FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Pic by Osman Adnan LIONEL Messi's presence alone could sell half the tickets despite reigning world club champions FC Barcelona's date with a Malaysian XI at the National Stadium on Aug 10 falling on the third day of Hari Raya. The much anticipated visit of the four-time European champions comes with expectations from fans who want a full star-studded line-up. "The summer will be a busy period with a lot of uncertainty with players moving away and coming in. "But yes, our plans are to bring our full team here," said FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Rossich was speaking at the announcement of the friendly match, which is part of the three-match FC Barcelona Asia Tour 2013, which sees the giants also visiting China and Thailand. Also pre...