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Pavlyuchenkova and Hewitt battle on


 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 15:43

Wednesday at the Sony Ericsson Open saw former top tenners, qualifiers and many more battling their socks off for a place in the second round of the $4.5 million event.

Former world No.1 wild card Lleyton Hewitt recovered from a set down to overcome Israeli Dudi Sela 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to scramble into round two of the combined ATP Masters 1000/WTA Premier event.

Another big name to reach the second round was 23-year-old former world No.8 Marcos Baghdatis who cruised past Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-2, 6-2.

Elsewhere in the mens draw, four American qualifiers had a successful day as Taylor Dent overcame Ricardo Mello 6-1, 6-3; Kevin Kim progressed when his opponent Michael Llodra retired at 6-3; Robert Kendrick ousted Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-3, 7-6 and Michael Russell knocked out Victor Hanescu 7-6, 6-3.

US wild card Brendan Evans was less successful as he succumbed to Czech Jan Hernych 6-4, 6-3.

Other men to reach round two were Mikhail Kukushkin who upset Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-4; Jarko Nieminen, Agustin Calleri, Julien Benneteau, Mikhail Youzhny, Frank Dancevic and Fabrice Santoro.

The players in the bottom half of the womens draw were in action on Wednesday with Russian world No.27 and Indian Wells semi-finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova attracting the crowds as she battled past Aravane Rezai 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Three former top 10 players were also in action; Nicole Vaidisova (former world No.7) beat Patricia Mayr 6-4, 6-2; Jelena Dokic (former world No.4) triumphed over Edina Gallovits 6-3, 7-6 while Daniela Hantuchova (former world No.5) scuffled past wild card Melanie Oudin 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Other victors on Wednesday included Maria Kirilenko, Samantha Stosur, Lucie Safarova, Francesca Schiavone, Mathilde Johansson, Galina Voskoboeva, Nuria Llagostera Vives, and qualifiers Tamira Paszek, Anastasia Yakimova, Mariya Koryttseva and wild card Anastasia Pivovarova.

Check out full results at the WTA websites.

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.