ATP Sofia: Day One Recap

The first ever tournament matches in Sofia, Bulgaria took place today. With only three matches on the card for day one of the Garanati Koza Sofia Open, it was a light day for the fans, but things should be getting fast and furious when day two rolls around.

Lukas Rosol Wins The First ATP Match To Take Place In Sofia

Lukas Rosol became the first male player to ever win a tour-level match in Sofia, after defeating Robin Haase in three sets. Rosol started the brighter of the pair, creating an early break opportunity in the fifth game of the match, only for the Dutchman to save both chances and then go on to clinch the first set 6-3. Breaks were traded early in the second set, before the Czech raced ahead to level the match at one set-all. Both players were strong on serve in the final set, before Rosol broke late and comfortably served the match out.

The stats paint a similar picture to the score, with both players breaking serve five times apiece. The stat which appears to give the big-serving Czech the edge is in the first serve points won, where he won 73% of his first deliveries, compared to Haase’s 64%. He also had the edge in the return points won, winning 36% on his opponent’s first serve compared to 27%.

Basic Edges Out Bhambri

In the second match of the day 119th ranked Mirza Basic saw off India’s Yuki Bhambri, in a clash featuring two players just outside the world’s top 100. Bhambri struggled to get into the match in the first set, losing it 3-6 and unable to register a break point due to Basic serving at 77% first serve and winning 22/30 points on his serve. The second set was a more scrappy affair, with six of the first seven games resulting in a break of serve, eventually leading to a tie-breaker. The Ukrainian opened up a 5-1 lead which proved too much for the Indian player, despite initially saving a match-point.

Basic’s next opponent will provide a sterner test; third-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Klizan Becomes The First Seed Through To The Second Round

After no-seeded player featured in the opening two matches of the tournament, seventh-seeded Martin Klizan opened his campaign by defeating local wildcard Alexandar Lazov. The Bulgarian was playing his first-ever tour level match, but served well to only lose the opener 3-6. That was as good as it got for Lazov, with his more-experienced opponent cruising to second set bagel. Despite not serving a high-serving percentage, the Slovakian won 70% of the points on his serve, along with 61% on the return. A good experience for Lazov, and a second-round matchup against Rosol for Klizan.

Day Two Preview

The second day in Sofia features an extended line-up, featuring fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber and sixth-seeded Gilles Muller. Kohlschreiber faces Sergiy Stakhovsky in the match of the day, with Muller taking on Malek Jaziri in the following match.

Elsewhere the doubles event kicks-off, with most eyes likely to be upon the top-seeds Philipp Petzschner and Alexander Peya, who face-off against Muller and Frederik Nielsen.