Double Dutch in Bangkok as Haase and Sijsling win

Jarkko Nieminen of Finland.

BANGKOK: World No. 75 Igor Sijsling shocked Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen on Monday to set up an all-Dutch second round tie at the Thailand Open as Spain’s Feliciano Lopez cantered to an opening victory.

Sijsling overcame the seventh seed and 2010 finalist 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) and will play compatriot Robin Haase in the next round after he saw off Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2, 6-4.

“It’s good to have one Dutchman in the quarter-finals,” said Haase.

Spanish sixth seed Feliciano Lopez put out Serbian teenager Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-3.

With the top four seeds granted a bye into the second round, top seed Tomas Berdych and second seed and defending champion Richard Gasquet took to the courts for some practice.

Canada’s Milos Raonic, a quarter-finalist last year, is seeded third with Gilles Simon, fresh from his title win over compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga indoors at Metz, the number four seed.

Simon, who became a father for the second time recently, comes into the tournament full of confidence after his title success, the 11th of his career. He reached the final in Bangkok last year, losing to countryman Gasquet.

Simon’s appearance in France last week was his first since retiring in the first round in August in Cincinnati against Vasek Pospisil due to a hip injury.

A year ago in Bangkok he was feeling the pain from several injuries but comes to Asia this time around with apparent good fitness and will await the winner from the first round match between Croatian Ivo Karlovic and Australian Bernard Tomic.

Simon is putting career ahead of family for the moment as he plays in Thailand.

“I cannot become a father every week. It’s a beautiful story for sure. It was a great moment for me because I missed the birth of our first child and this time I was able to be there. I was very happy about that.”

Berdych, the world No. 6, this month helped the Czech Republic to reach a second consecutive Davis Cup final.

He last played Bangkok five years ago, reaching a semi-final with Novak Djokovic. Berdych admitted that he was yearning to try some Thai cuisine but his main focus is on the tennis as he bids for his first title since last October in Stockholm. — AFP