To the surprise of everyone, Somdev Devvarman ousted defending champion Alexandr Dolgopolov by 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Tuesday at the $1.76 million ATP and WTA Washington Open.
World number 129 Devvarman, who is a two-time US college champion, ranked 104 spots below ninth seed Dolgopolov of Ukraine. He advanced to the round of 16, where he is likely to face US eighth seed John Isner on Thursday.
Devvarman expressed that he is glad. No doubt that guy was a tough player. He played really well in the beginning and gave him a couple errors to break him. Truly, he fought back in the second set. He was serving well which kept him in the match. In fact, he gave himself looks on his serve. It was just confidence. He agreed that it is such an advantage to be here to prepare for one of his favorite tournaments. He disclosed that he is pretty sharp and physically for sure. Devvarman, who returned India following Wimbledon to work with a Chennai-based charity called "Life is a Ball," feels on top of his game.
Lleyton Hewitt of Australia and Ryan Harrison of America were playing a later first-round match to lock horns with Argentine top seed Juan Martin Del Potro, who is a two-time Washington winner as well as the 2009 US Open champion. Second seed and a career-best 11th in the rankings Kei Nishikori of Japan is scheduled to open with a second-round match on Wednesday against US wildcard Jack Sock, who hammered Dutchman Igor Sijsling by 6-4, 6-2. Sock specified that he is going to just go out and play his game. If he is playing well, he thinks he has a shot at a lot of guys. On the other hand, Nishikori, who has never played or practiced with Sock, is counted a title threat by Del Potro. Regarding Nishikori, Del Potro applauded after a practice session with him that he is playing really well. He added that he is another big favorite to win the tournament.
Remarkably, women's top seed Angelique Kerber of Germany connected on only 39 % of her first serves. However, she still dominated US qualifier Irina Falconi by 6-2, 6-3 to register a second-round date with Melanie Oudin of America.
Kerber, who included a five-day Majorca vacation in her post-Wimbledon break commented that it was difficult after such a long time without matches. She can improve more. Her serve was not so good. She went out for 20 minutes to hit a little bit more after the match. She thinks that it was a good idea.
Moreover, Heather Watson of Britain rallied past US qualifier Alexandra Mueller by 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3 and is supposed to play for a quarter-final berth against French fourth seed Alize Cornet, who trounced Yanina Wickmayer of Begium by 6-1, 6-3. Watson described that it was a tough match. She is just glad that she is alive for another day. She added that she is just building her game back after being ill for so long. She is feeling good now. She disclosed while training before this tournament that this is the first time this year that she felt good.
