Pedro Martínez has caught the air at the Grand Slams since he started participating in them. Last year he failed at the US Open, but then he reached the third round at Roland Garros and At the Australian Open, he passed the first on Monday against a rival who was not at all easy, the Japanese and world number 57 Yoshihito Nishioka. And that the Spanish let slip a first set that dominated 5-2 and lost in the tiebreaker. Though he raged back to win by 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-1 and 6-1 in 2:39.
Martínez, who will face the surprising Emil Ruusuvuori, the Finn who eliminated Gael Monfils on Wednesday, played aggressively (48 winners) and missed less than his rival (28-46), who managed to break the serve 11 times. Nishioka despaired to the point of throwing away his cap, racket, and everything else he had his hand as he swore in Japanese. To all this, Pedro responded with serenity to resolve the ballot against a player with a better ranking than him, who is 87th.
“The game was very tough at the beginning,” said Pedro, who confesses that he was “a little nervous” and that then raised the level. “For better or for worse, at five sets there is room for maneuver,” explained the Valencian, who thinks that “there are few players who can win quickly.” Martínez complained about the speed change of the tracks: “Two years ago they were very fast, last year they were perfect, slower and more enjoyable for the public because the points were longer and the serve was not decisive. Again this year it is fast. I don't think so much change is good. Each season should be the same, what is now is excessive. “ About Ruusuvuori, the Spaniard says he knows him well: “He has beaten me in two Challengers and he is a player who is good at this type of court, he plays straight and stable, I have to bother him so that he does not play at ease “.
Carreño subdues Nishikori
Surely Pablo Carreño still remembers, and many fans also, the round of 16 match of the 2019 Australian Open in which the victory eluded him against Nishikori when he had gone ahead by two sets to zero and a controversial decision by the chair umpire led him to lose his temper in the tiebreaker in the fifth. The Asturian fell, it was a painful defeat. Two years later, this Monday, fate would have them both face each other and Pablo took revenge in a big way, with an undeniable triumph in three sets against the Japanese tennis player, somewhat diminished due to injuries. The fact is that Carreño completely dominated him until he won 7-5, 7-6 (4) and 6-2 in 2h: 23. Nothing to do with that battle of more than five hours. Carreño served well (12 aces), played aggressive (39 winners) and broke the Japanese serve six times. With this victory, the Spaniard will face the Czech Jiri on Wednesday Vesely, affordable opponents after a poisoned first round that passed with solvency.
“It was an important victory, although in a lower quality match than two years ago, because neither of us were fine with the serve, “acknowledged Pablo, who also warned that the tracks” are very fast. ” “You do a lot of damage with the serve, the ball slips and it is difficult to play. You have to be attentive and try to dominate because it is very difficult to defend.” Carreño clarified that in the ATP Cup he did not have an injury during the tie against Greece, but “a strong overload” in the abdominal area. “We started the season in very bad conditions. This time I have not noticed it, but it is difficult for me to serve with coordination and speed. I hope to get better and recover from everything.” Regarding Vesely, he says that it is “uncomfortable, with a backhand that is mounted on the ball very well, although the right does not have it so natural. We will have to move him and set the rhythm of the game.”
Ramos, frustrated before Fritz
Albert Ramos was not that far from beating Taylor Fritz, even though he ultimately lost in four sets, but in two of them he did not yield until the tiebreaker: 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-2 and 7-6 (6) in 3:23. The Catalan falls for the third consecutive year to the first of changes in the Australian Open. In 2019 he did not pass the first round of any Grand Slam and in 2020 he only went to second at Roland Garros. Ramos served to win in the first set against Fritz, but then could not stand the pressure of the 23-year-old American and 27th favorite., who will face his compatriot Reilly Opelka on Wednesday. Albert missed the game, among other things, because of the 71 unforced errors he made.
Schedule and results.