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Youzhny, Bjorkmann, Clement in second round of Gerry Weber Open
Halle (Germany), June 11: Sweden`s Johan Bjorkmann reached the second round of the Gerry Weber Open yesterday, sweeping past German talent Maximilian Abel 6-3 6-4.
Halle (Germany), June 11: Sweden's Johan Bjorkmann reached the second round of the Gerry Weber Open yesterday, sweeping past German talent Maximilian Abel 6-3 6-4.
The Swede, once the world no.4, joined no.6 Russian Mikhail Youzhny and no.8 Frenchman Arnaud Clement in reaching the second round of the event, a major grasscourt tuneup for the Wimbledon.
"I hit the ball okay today. It was a good start to the grass season," Bjorkmann said. "I am just hitting as many balls as I can out there to get ready for Wimbledon."
Top-seeded Roger Federer, hoping to bounce back from his first round French Open upset, faced Armenia's Sargis Sargsian later yesterday at the $800,000 tournament.
Youzhny struggled past France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, 1-6 6-1 6-2 while Clement beat Frederic Niemeyer of Canada 6-3 6-0 on a hot sunny day at an event usually hit by rain.
Bjorkmann finished 1997 at a career-high no.4, reaching the US Open semi-final that year, but has since fallen to no.68.
But he proved too experienced for Abel, who appeared nervous and made numerous unforced errors playing in front of a home crowd on the centre court.
Abel, a former top junior player, did whip a passing shot in the second set that broke Bjorkmann's serve, to bring the match even at 3-3. But the Swede broke back in the next game and coasted to victory.
The Halle tournament boasts a retractable roof over centre court for when it rains, one reason it has become a growing rival to Queens as a grass court Wimbledon tuneup.
Bureau Report
The Swede, once the world no.4, joined no.6 Russian Mikhail Youzhny and no.8 Frenchman Arnaud Clement in reaching the second round of the event, a major grasscourt tuneup for the Wimbledon.
"I hit the ball okay today. It was a good start to the grass season," Bjorkmann said. "I am just hitting as many balls as I can out there to get ready for Wimbledon."
Top-seeded Roger Federer, hoping to bounce back from his first round French Open upset, faced Armenia's Sargis Sargsian later yesterday at the $800,000 tournament.
Youzhny struggled past France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, 1-6 6-1 6-2 while Clement beat Frederic Niemeyer of Canada 6-3 6-0 on a hot sunny day at an event usually hit by rain.
Bjorkmann finished 1997 at a career-high no.4, reaching the US Open semi-final that year, but has since fallen to no.68.
But he proved too experienced for Abel, who appeared nervous and made numerous unforced errors playing in front of a home crowd on the centre court.
Abel, a former top junior player, did whip a passing shot in the second set that broke Bjorkmann's serve, to bring the match even at 3-3. But the Swede broke back in the next game and coasted to victory.
The Halle tournament boasts a retractable roof over centre court for when it rains, one reason it has become a growing rival to Queens as a grass court Wimbledon tuneup.
Bureau Report