Somdev beats Roger-Vasselin, plays Djokovic

Somdev Devvarman will meet World no. 1 Novak Djokovic in the next round

Miami, March 23 (IANS): India’s top singles player Somdev Devvarman has outlasted Frenchman Edourado Roger-Vasselin over three sets and will next play top seed and World No.1 Novak Djokovic in the third round of the ATP World Tour Miami Masters here.

The Indian fought back with relentless tennis in a late night match Friday to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in two hours 20 minutes against Roger-Vasselin, who made it to the main draw as Lucky Loser after the 30th seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain pulled out.

Somdev, ranked 254 after missing much of last year’s action on the Tour owing a shoulder injury, was a cut above Roger-Vasselin, who is ranked 80.

Somdev’s service did the trick for him as he fired seven aces to his opponent’s two, though he also double-faulted four times. He clinched over 70 percent of points on his serve to keep his nose ahead in the second and third sets after losing the first set after being broken in the seventh game.

A early break in the second set was enough for Somdev to take the second set and in the decider games went with the serve till the 12th game when the Indian had the decisive break.

The Indian converted three of the eight break points he got while saving seven of the nine.

Meanwhile, Djokovic breezed through his second round match against Czech Lukas Rosol 6-1, 6-0.