STOCKHOLM OPEN

Nalbandian Ousts Johansson; Ancic, Nishikori To Meet

Top-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian (pictured) proved too much for Joachim Johansson in the Swede's first tournament since coming out of retirement, taking less than an hour to post the 6-3, 6-2 second round win on Thursday at the If Stockholm Open. World No. 7 Nalbandian dropped just five points on serve during the match and converted on three of his four break point chances.

The 26-year-old advances to his first ATP quarterfinal since June at Queen's Club (l. to Djokovic in SF). He began the season by reaching consecutive ATP finals in February at Buenos Aires (d. Acasuso) and Acapulco (l. to Almagro), and also was a quarterfinal at the ATP Masters Series events at Indian Wells (l. to Fish) and Monte Carlo (l. to Federer).
Johansson had originally retired from the ATP circuit in February after suffering shoulder injuries for three years, but had announced last Friday that he would resume his professional tennis career starting this week in Stockholm. This will be his only tournament this year, but he will resume a full schedule towards the second half of 2009.
Nalbandian will face seventh seed Albert Montanes in the quarterfinals after the Spaniard rallied from a set down to edge out Swiss qualifier George Bastl 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. The World No. 51, who captured his maiden ATP title at Amersfoort (d. Darcis), is through to his fifth ATP quarterfinal of the season and his first in Stockholm.
Croatian second seed Mario Ancic advanced to his fifth ATP quarterfinal of the season with a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory over Belgian Steve Darcis. The 24-year-old fired 13 aces and was able to capitalize on one of four break point chances to reach the Stockholm quarterfinals for the third time in four event appearances. He also reached this stage in 2003 (l. to Fish) and ’07 (l. to T. Johansson).
The former World No. 7, currently No. 31, opened his season with a 10th ATP final appearance at Marseille (l. to Murray) and a run to the Zagreb semifinals (l. to Ljubicic). However, since reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals (l. to Federer), he had made just two main draw appearances prior to Stockholm after suffering a recurrence of glandular fever.
Ancic next will face Japanese wild card Kei Nishikori (pictured right), who battled past Dominik Hrbaty 6-1, 1-6, 7-5 to win back-to-back matches on the ATP circuit for the fifth time this year. The 18-year-old Stockholm debutant has jumped 212 places in the South African Airways ATP Rankings since the start of the year and is currently placed a career-high No. 77. In February he captured his maiden ATP title at Delray Beach (d. No. 12 Blake) to become the first Japanese ATP singles titlist since Shuzo Matsuoka won the 1992 South Korea crown.
“This is the first time I'm winning so constantly and it surprises me,” admitted Nishikori. “Of course I haven't faced anyone from the Top 10, but it gives me confidence. Now I wish to advance to the semifinals."
Two-time finalist Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, the No. 3 seed this week, earned his spot in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 win over Frenchman Arnaud Clement in two hours and 47 minutes. Nieminen advances to the Stockholm quarterfinals for the third straight year and for the fourth time overall. He lost to American James Blake the past two years, in the 2006 final and '07 quarterfinals, and also was a runner-up in 2001 (l. to Schalken in five sets).
Meanwhile, No. 4 seed Robin Soderling kept Swedish title hopes alive by defeating Argentine lucky loser Juan Monaco 6-3, 6-3. Sweden's top-ranked player, who goes on to face No. 5 seed Rainer Schuettler of Germany in the quarterfinals, reached his first of seven ATP finals at this event in 2003 (l. to Fish). Soderling also was a semifinalist in 2006 (l. to Blake).

Info and photo from ATP