Kremlin Cup—Moscow, Russia

Recent Japan finalist Mikhail Youzhny advanced to the second round of Moscow on Monday, defeating Horacio Zeballos 6-1, 7-6 (5).

The 27-year-old, who is currently ranked No. 30 in world, won 86 percent of his first serve points, hit eight aces, and broke the serve of his Argentine opponent on four occasions.

Youzhny improved his year-to-date record to 33-26, and will attempt to make his fourth quarterfinal appearance in Moscow when he takes on the winner of the Potito Starace vs. Evgeny Donskoy match. That match is currently in the second set with Starace leading one-set-to-love.

Youzhny's best result in Moscow came in 2004, when he lost in the semifinals to Nikolay Davydenko.

"I hope I can keep up the same level of play in all my other matches," said Youzhny.

"In the first set my opponent made lots of errors, then in the second set I lost my concentration while the Argentine improved his game, that’s why it was all decided in the tie-break."

Elsewhere, No. 5 seed Pablo Cuevas defeated Yen-Hsun Lu 6-4, 6-2 in first round action. Cuevas, who has improved his ranking 89 spots from the beginning of the year, won 83 percent of his first serve points, struck nine aces, and broke the serve of Lu on three occasions (3-3).

Lu, by contrast, won 81 percent of his first serve points, hit one ace, and failed to convert on his lone break point opportunity in the second set.

The one hour match propelled Cuevas to his 17th match win of the season, and his third win on hard-courts.

The 23-year-old Argentine will next face Teimuraz Gabashvili, who came back from a set down to defeat Karol Beck 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

The defeat of Beck gave Gabashvili his 13th match win of the season, while participating in his sixth Kremlin Cup. The 24-year-old Russian won 66 percent of his first serve points, hit nine aces, and broke Beck's serve on six occasions.

The two hour and 43 minute win for Gabashvili set up his first career meeting with Cuevas.

“I had a game plan for today, not to hit too hard because he likes it when you give him some rhythm," said Gabashvili.

"My serve did not work at all at the beginning, so I lost the first set, but I knew that if I could improve my serve I would have a good chance of winning.

“I love playing in Russia these two weeks, but I wish we had more events. All Russian players feel the same as me!"

 

If Stockholm Open—Stockholm, Sweden

Sixth seed Benjamin was sent crashing out of the first round in Sweden today, losing to crafty countryman Simon Greul, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Becker, who captured the first set on the strength of winning 100 percent of his first serve points (9-9), saw his form drop in the second and third sets.

After being broken twice in the first set, Greul held serve convincingly in the set two, winning 82 percent of his first serve points.

The third set saw three breaks of serve in total, but none more important than Greul's service break at 5-6, Becker serving.

Greul capitalized on his first match point when a Becker hit an errant forehand.

The Stuttgart native improved to 15-14 on the season, while defeating his higher ranked countryman in their first career meeting.

Greul, who will be gunning for his third quarterfinal appearance in Moscow, faces either Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, or Alberto Martin in the second round. The Spanish clash is currently on court with Garcia-Lopez leading one-set-to-love.

Elsewhere, No. 4 seed Juan Monaco is tied at one-set all with Czech Jan Henrych on center court. Monaco, who captured the first set on the strength of winning 68 percent of his first serve points, lost his way in set two, dropping his serve on two occasions. The Argentine's points won on first serves dropped to a lowly 53 percent.

Monaco's historically weak serving has posed as a major roadblock in his hard-court success. The talented Argentine has won only three matches on hard-courts this season, compared with 29 on clay.

The winner of the Monaco-Henrych match will play the victor of the day's final encounter between Joachim Johansson and Peter Luczak.

Johansson will be participating in his third match of the season, and could be a factor in his home court if he remains healthy. Johansson and Luczak have never met on tour.

Two-time ATP World Tour winner Albert Montanes will take his clay-court guile into his first indoor action of the season. The No. 7 seed will be in tough shape against hard-court comfortable Argentine Leonardo Mayer.

Mayer, who has been touted as an upcoming star, will be attempting to win his 16th match of season, while vying to recapture his career high rank of 54 in the world, which he achieved in September of this year.

Montanes has captured two of his three career titles this season, winning in Estoril in April, and Romania in September. The 28-year-old Barcelona resident will be in search of his 22nd win of the season, and his third hard-court win of the year.

Tuesday's order of play in Stockholm will feature:

Grigor Dmitrov vs. Jarko Nieminen, Andreas Vinicguerra vs. Oliver Rochus, and Andreas Beck vs. Arnaud Clement.

Please check back on Tuesday for continuing daily coverage from Moscow, and Stockholm.

Cheers.