The former Wimbledon runner-up dropped his serve thrice to concede the tight first set 5-7 but was then able to rebound strongly for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory in 2 hours 12 minutes. The Czech now meets the eighth seed Benoit Paire, a 7-5, 6-3 winner over Evgeny Donskoy.
A back injury had kept the 33-year-old away from the game for a major chunk of the 2018 season and he only made his return at the start of this year. Berdych has been able to get quite a few matches under his belt since then by reaching the final at Doha and the Round of 16 at Melbourne.
Also winning yesterday was Ernests Gulbis. The highly-talented Latvian, who is now languishing at 83 in the world rankings, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6(5).
Monfils, Berrettini progress in Sofia
Over at the Sofia Open in Bulgaria, seventh-seeded Gael Monfils needed less than an hour to prevail over Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-4 in what was a smashing start to his campaign at this ATP 250 indoor hardcourt tournament.
Rising Italian youngster Matteo Berrettini kept his singles winning run going. A few days after playing a crucial role in Italy’s Davis Cup Qualifier victory over India at Kolkata, the 22-year-old needed 1 hour 32 minutes to beat veteran Denis Istomin 6-4, 7-6(7). Up next for the World No. 53 is the top seed Karen Khachanov.
Seeds tumble in Cordoba
At the only clay court event going on this week in Cordoba, Argentina, a couple of seeds were upset in the first round. World No. 112 Juan Ignacio Londero, a local wildcard, put up a brilliant performance to stun the 41st ranked Nicolas Jarry 6-2, 7-6(5). This was Londero’s maiden career win on the ATP World Tour.
In a blockbuster all-Argentine clash, Federico Delbonis edged his seventh-seeded compatriot Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 in a thriller that lasted 2 hours 28 minutes.
Pablo Cuevas too progressed, courtesy of a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Facundo Bagnis.
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