Estoril Open 2007 News and Events

Paul-Henri Mathieu
© AFP/Getty Images

Paul-Henri Mathieu continued his fine form by surprising ATP World No. 6 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-2, 6-4 for a place in the second round of the Estoril Open on Wednesday.

Mathieu, who captured his third career ATP title in Casablanca (d. Montanes) last weekend, broke the Gonzalez serve five times from six opportunities to wrap up victory in a rain-interrupted one hour and 23 minutes.

It was the Frenchman’s third straight career victory over Gonzalez – and fourth win this year over a player ranked in the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings.

Since reaching the Australian Open final in January, Gonzalez has six ATP-level matches. The 26-year-old falls to 12-7 this year.

Mathieu improves to 16-8 and will next meet Russian Igor Kunitsyn.

Meanwhile, fifth-seeded compatriot Richard Gasquet overcame a slow start to beat Max Mirnyi of Belarus.

The 20-year-old Gasquet improved to 19-8 for the year with a 6-3, 6-3 win in 76 minutes. Gasquet won his maiden ATP title over Mirnyi in their only previous meeting in Nottingham two summers ago.

Gasquet will face local favorite Frederico Gil in the second round.

Dmitry Tursunov will play Spanish qualifier Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round, after the Russian No. 6 seed defeated Florent Serra of France 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in 84 minutes.

Garcia-Lopez ensured American Michael Russell did not celebrate his 29th birthday with a victory, as he avenged his ATP Masters Series Indian Wells loss with a 6-1, 6-2 win.

Meanwhile, No. 7 seed Agustin Calleri beat Danai Udomchoke of Thailand 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 for his 13th ATP win of the season.

The Argentine has reached three ATP semifinals in Auckland (l. to Robredo), Acapulco (l. to Chela) and Barcelona (l. to Canas) this year.

Play was officially cancelled at 18:15 local time due to torrential rain.

ESTORIL OPEN RE-CAP
Monday: Djokovic Edges Andreev in Epic Battle
Sunday: Querrey, Kunitsyn Win into Second Round