Jankovic Gets By Siniakova

Ricoh Open, Netherlands

[24] Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs [102] Katerina Siniakova (CZE)

Tennis is so much a mental sport and if you are not fully committed day in and day out, you can easily be defeated by any player on Tour that is confident. Jankovic knows this well as she has had a string of first round losses this year.  Three of those losses were to players ranked outside the top 100. It has been a rather scrappy year for the former number one player and today’s victory may have felt like winning the title for Jankovic, who won 6-4, 6-2.  Her next opponent is also ranked outside the top 100, Evgeniya Rodina (RUS).

 

Fritz Back From The Brink of Defeat

Mercedes Cup, Stuttgart

[65] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs.  [Q] Fabrice Martin (FRA)

Fritz has had a rough patch since making it to the quarterfinals of Abierto Mexicano Telcel in February of this year.  This is to be expected because he is still just eighteen and only turned professional last year.  He hopes that his big serve on the grass will pay dividends; yet, he was almost ousted from the tournament by a player who does not even have a singles ranking.  Fritz won 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-1.  Unfortunately he gets the number one seed, Roger Federer, tomorrow.

 

Dimitrov’s Woes Continues

[36] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)  vs.  [223] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)

After an uncharacteristic, but not totally unexpected melt-down in the Final of the Istanbul Open in late April of this year, Dimitrov’s wobbly confidence was severely shaken.  This is his fourth consecutive first round loss and for a player once ranked as high as number eight, he must find this period very emotionally draining and frustrating.  He lost 4-6, 2-6.