Australian Open: Somdev through to 2nd round; to face World No. 26

Melbourne, Jan 14 (IANS): Somdev Devvarman, who is leading a rebellion against the All India Tennis Association (AITA) demanding better playing conditions in the Davis Cup, started his Australian Open campaign on a winning note. He beat higher-ranked Germany’s Bjorn Phau in the first round of the men’s singles event here Monday.

Somdev, ranked 551, defeated 78-ranked Phau 6-3 6-2 6-3 in match that lasted nearly two hours.

The 27-year-old Indian will next face the winner of the match between Italian Simone Bolelli and Polish Jerzy Janowicz.

Somdev was in a fine form Monday, converting two of the three break points that came his way and also hit a couple of aces to win the first set in 31 minutes.

The second set lasted 44 minutes during which Somdev double faulted once but bagged two of the four break point chances.

It took another 35 miniutes for Somdev to win the third set and wrap-up the match. Somdev broke the German twice and had a better second serve winning percentage.

Update: Somdev Devvarman will face World no 26 Polish player Jerzy Janowicz in the next round of the Australian Open.Janowicz beat 80th rank Italian Simone Bolelli 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the 1st round.

Janowicz’s claim to fame is his run at the 2012 Paris Masters, where he defeated five Top 20 players, including US Open champion & World No. 3 Andy Murray and World No. 9 Janko Tipsarevi?.He thus became the first man to reach the final of a Masters tournament as a qualifier since Guillermo Canas in 2007, and the first unseeded finalist at the Paris Masters since Andrei Pavel in 2003.