Two days after ending Lleyton Hewitt’s Wimbledon career in a dramatic five-setter, Jarkko Nieminen played his final match at the All-England Club. The 33-year-old Finn faced Novak Djokovic and got off to a strong start before eventually bowing out 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
Nieminen broke to open the match and took a 3-1 advantage in the first set, but Djokovic had no trouble restoring order to the proceedings. The top-ranked Serb earned two breaks of his own before serving out the opener at 5-4. Routine second and third sets–during which Djokovic did not face a single break point–allowed the defending champion to get the job done in a quick one hour and 31 minutes.
End of Djokovic-Nieminen:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkKL2VN8VHE]
“I would rate [the match] probably around 7 or 8 (out of 10),” Djokovic assessed. “I think it was a very solid performance. I’ve done just enough to win in straight sets. [Nieminen] started off very well, very aggressive, (with) winners in the first couple games. I managed to stay calm and believed that I could come back.”
Among those enduring a much tougher day at the office were Fernando Verdasco and Marin Cilic. Verdasco won a second consecutive five-setter by coming back from two sets to one down and seeing off Dominic Thiem. The Spaniard had previously outlasted Martin Klizan 13-11 in the fifth during first-round action. Cilic survived a scary final frame of play to hold off Ricardas Berankis 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-5.
The reigning U.S. Open winner battled out of 15-40 hole at 5-5 in the decider before clinching victory with a break in the 12th game. Berankis double-faulted off the net cord to end it.
“The match was very, very high-quality,” Cilic reflected. “I think Ricardas was playing extremely well. Even after I broke him in the first set, I think he was playing really, really good. I’m just really glad that I won.”End of Cilic-Berankis:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW9vJhTwba0]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW9vJhTwba0]
Marcos Baghdatis joined the third-round group by getting the job done in a five-setter of his own, 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 over underdog Aussie John Millman. Next up for the Cypriot is David Goffin, who ended the short but sweet run of Great Britain’s own Liam Broady.
Briefs
* Nishikori withdraws, but still has a chance of passing Wawrinka for No. 4.
* Isner beats Ebden, can reach the top 15 with one more win and a Dimitrov loss.
* Gasquet destroys De Schepper, improves chance to remain top 20.
* Tomic gets the best of Herbert, likely assures top 25 position.
* Verdasco wins in five again, gives himself a shot at top 40.
* Baghdatis recovers from two sets down to make a return trip to top 50.[polldaddy poll=8960180]
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