Lopez Ousted By Qualifier Koubek

© Getty ImagesStefan Koubek joined Austrian compatriot Jurgen Melzer in the second round on Monday.

Austrians Melzer and Koubek through to second round of Men’s Open

Austrians Jurgen Melzer and Stefan Koubek were the first players to advance to the second round of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday as both claimed straight-set victories. Melzer defeated Italian Simone Bolelli 6-1 7-5, and qualifier Koubek upset former two-time finalist Feliciano Lopez of Spain 7-6 6-4.

Melzer completely dominated the first set against Bolelli, who has now lost all five matches he has played so far this season. The Austrian, a recent semi-finalist in Zagreb and a quarter-finalist in both Auckland and Rotterdam this year, swept into a 4-0 lead before dropping his own serve.

Watch Live Online

Bolelli won just 15 points in the set, even though Melzer struggled with his serve. But despite putting just one third of his serves into play he still managed to win over 80 percent of the points on his first serve when he did, and two thirds on his second serve.

After claiming the first set Melzer needed a little longer to gain an advantage in the second, but his breakthrough came when Bolelli put a forehand wide to give him a 3-1 lead. That was short-lived as a netted backhand gave Bolelli his only break of the match in the next game, but Melzer broke once more in the final game.

Lopez, who finished as runner-up to Roger Federer in 2004 and Andy Roddick in 2008, won in Johannesburg earlier this month. But he was unable to overcome a gritty performance from an in-form Koubek.

Games went with serve in the first set, although Koubek was threatened in two games as he was taken to deuce, at 2-2 and 5-5. Lopez then led the tiebreak 4-2 but lost the next five games as Koubek rallied.

Koubek then pressed home his advantage by breaking the Lopez serve to begin the second set, but the Spaniard was able to level at 2-2. The outcome then revolved around a remarkable seventh game in which Lopez struck four aces but also three double-faults, one on Koubek’s third break point.

Later matches on the opening day include second seed Novak Djokovic against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and third seed Andy Murray against Igor Kunitsyn.

Play at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, begins on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 with the WTA Tour event and continues with the ATP tournament from Monday, February 22nd – 27th.