07.02.2013.
Cilic started strong, Dodig defeated Karlovic again
Top seed and two-time winner Marin Cilic, who missed the last tournament edition because of injury, started strong the new campaign at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors. He defeated Grega Zemlja, highest ranked player from Slovenia by 6:2, 6:3 in the second round to reach the quarterfinals. On Friday he will square off against another player from Slovenia Blaz Kavcic.
„I am very pleased with the way I played. It was great, everything went fine: court movement, returns, serve… He was a bit nervous at the beginning, it helped me to gain advantage“, Cilic said. „I had match under control, the only real issue was at 2:2 in the second set when I saved four break points.“
Cilic now has 14-4 record in Zagreb with two titles under his belt (in 2009. and 2010.).
Croat Ivan Dodig defeated compatriot Ivo Karlovic by 7:6 (2), 6:7 (2), 6:3 in the match that lasted one hour and 49 minutes, lifting the record in head-to-head to 3-0. Dodig had decent chance to win in straight sets, serving for the match at 7:6, 5:4, but he lost serve for the first – and last – time during the evening. Karlovic was dominant in the tie-breaker, but another break Dodig achieved in the sixth game of the third set was crucial.
„It was again match decided by one point“, Dodig said. „I rushed a little bit as I served for the match, but Ivo played three awesome backhands.“
Last year, when Russian Mikhail Youzhny won double crown in Zagreb, Ivan Dodig said „congratulations, but since you won all now don't come back“. Now they will meet in the quarterfinals.
„He plays here great, it seems that he likes very much conditions here. It will be a big challenge for me and I hope I have chances“, Dodig said.
„I am very pleased with the way I played. It was great, everything went fine: court movement, returns, serve… He was a bit nervous at the beginning, it helped me to gain advantage“, Cilic said. „I had match under control, the only real issue was at 2:2 in the second set when I saved four break points.“
Cilic now has 14-4 record in Zagreb with two titles under his belt (in 2009. and 2010.).
Croat Ivan Dodig defeated compatriot Ivo Karlovic by 7:6 (2), 6:7 (2), 6:3 in the match that lasted one hour and 49 minutes, lifting the record in head-to-head to 3-0. Dodig had decent chance to win in straight sets, serving for the match at 7:6, 5:4, but he lost serve for the first – and last – time during the evening. Karlovic was dominant in the tie-breaker, but another break Dodig achieved in the sixth game of the third set was crucial.
„It was again match decided by one point“, Dodig said. „I rushed a little bit as I served for the match, but Ivo played three awesome backhands.“
Last year, when Russian Mikhail Youzhny won double crown in Zagreb, Ivan Dodig said „congratulations, but since you won all now don't come back“. Now they will meet in the quarterfinals.
„He plays here great, it seems that he likes very much conditions here. It will be a big challenge for me and I hope I have chances“, Dodig said.