Tipsarevic Advances; Stepanek Sets Federer Clash

© Getty ImagesJanko Tipsarevic set a second-round meeting with Marin Cilic.

World No. 44 Janko Tipsarevic withstood the challenge of 2010 ATP World Tour Comeback Player of the Year, Robin Haase, on Thursday to prevail 6-4, 7-6(5) and reach the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

The Serbian, a finalist at Delray Beach (l. to del Potro) last month, converted two of nine break point chances and won 82 per cent of points behind his first serve to secure his 12th victory of the season in one hour and 43 minutes. In the second round of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament he will face 18th-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic.

Czech Radek Stepanek set up a second-round clash with two-time former champion Roger Federer after beating Italian Fabio Fognini 6-3, 7-6(5) in 87 minutes. Former World No. 8 Stepanek has never lost before the third round in Miami in seven previous appearances, but trails Federer 2-10 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head.

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Defending champion Andy Roddick will open his campaign against Pablo Cuevas after the Uruguayan defeated German Michael Berrer 6-4, 7-6(2) in one hour and 36 minutes. Meanwhile No. 10 seed Jurgen Melzer will face his doubles partner Philipp Petzschner, who dismissed Florent Serra of France 6-1, 7-5 in 70 minutes. Melzer and Petzschner won the Wimbledon doubles crown last year and are the fourth seeds in Miami.

American wild card Jack Sock was denied his first ATP World Tour match win as he was beaten by Argentine Carlos Berlocq 7-5, 7-6(6) in the first round. The 18 year old, who had the chance to hit with Federer before the tournament, was playing in just his second tour-level event after losing in the US Open first round (l. to Chiudinelli) last year.

A pair of Germans were dealt first-round exits on Thursday. Italian Andreas Seppi defeated Mischa Zverev 6-2, 6-7(9), 6-1 in just under two hours, while Russia’s Teymuraz Gabashvili beat Daniel Brands 6-2, 7-6(5).