Brisbane International Tennis - Australian Open Series

Stepanek keeps his winning streak alive

AAP/Image: SMP Images Monday 4 January 2010 Comments

Defending champion Radek Stepanek used all his smarts to work out and then work over local John Millman on Monday night to maintain his unbeaten record at the Brisbane International.

The crafty Czech took just over an hour to dispose of Millman 6-4 6-0 on Pat Rafter Arena to set up a possible second round clash with another Queenslander, Bernard Tomic.

Brisbane baseline slugger Millman was an instant crowd favourite and rose to the occasion in the opening set when he went shot for shot with the world No.12.

His first faltering step came in the eighth game as Stepanek broke to take a 5-3 lead and serve for the set.

But to Millman’s credit he immediately broke back to the delight of the parochial crowd, which regularly chanted for the 20 year old.

He was set to defy his world ranking of 307 and level at 5-all when 40-15 up on serve but consecutive double faults gave the Czech his chance.

Stepanek grabbed it with both hands to take the set and the wind went from the popular local’s sails as he lost the next seven games in his ATP tour debut.

The Czech Davis Cup hero, who beat Fernando Verdasco to take the inaugural Brisbane tournament last year, said he was in career-best form and felt he could repeat his efforts of 2009.

“I’m happy to be keeping my winning streak here, that’s my sixth match and so far I’m unbeaten here,” he said.

Millman denied nerves, instead lamenting a loss of focus that stopped his first set comeback against the tournament second seed.

“I thought I was right back into it and the momentum had swung back into my favour but I just let him back in [with the two double faults],” he said.

“I just didn’t concentrate hard enough, I was up 40-15 and saw 5-all and looked too far ahead.”

Columbian Alejandro Falla produced the upset of the second day of the tournament by beating French seventh seed Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-4.

It was a mixed day for the French contingent with Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement also losing, to Israeli Harel Levy and American Wayne Odesnik respectively, while Richard Gasquet and Marc Gicquel both progressed.

Gasquet fought hard in his first match since being completely cleared of a doping offence, overcoming Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 4-6 6-4.

Super-fit Queenslander Nick Lindahl, who beat Tomic for a wildcard berth at the Australian Open, ensured there would be five Australians in the main draw by upsetting Belgian veteran Xavier Malisse in the last round of qualifying 6-1 7-6

Results from the Brisbane International today
Men Round 1
2-Radek Stepanek (CZE) d John Millman (AUS) 6-4 6-0

8-Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) d Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 6-3 3-6 6-1

Harel Levy (ISR) d Michael Llodra (FRA) 6-2 6-0

Alejandro Falla (COL) d 7-Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4 6-4

Marc Gicquel (FRA) d Philipp Petzschner (GER) 6-3 6-1

Wayne Odesnik (USA) d Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-4 7-6(2)

Richard Gasquet (FRA) d Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 4-6 6-4

Women Round 1
6-Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 6-2 6-2

Agnes Szavay (HUN) d Peng Shuai (CHN) 5-7 6-4 6-2

Justine Henin (BEL) d 2-Nadia Petrova (RUS) 7-5 7-5

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d 5-Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 6-4 2-6 6-2

Lucie Safarova (CZE) d Anna-Lena Gronefeld (GER) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1

Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) d Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 6-2 0-6 7-6(1)

Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 6-4 7-6(3)

3-Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d Jelena Dokic (AUS) 7-5 1-6 6-3

Roberta Vinci (ITA) d Sara Errani (ITA) 6-4 2-6 6-2

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Tags: John Millman, Radek Stepanek

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