KUALA LUMPUR: An ATP 250 event is usually meant for young stars to learn their trade and earn their stripes.
So, there was no surprise in seeing the Malaysian Open, which is an ATP 250 event, welcoming youngsters like Nick Kyrgios, 19, Omar Jasika, 17, and Bernard Tomic, 21, from Australia and Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic, 22.
Unfortunately, the youngsters have wilted in the Malaysian heat while the oldies like Jarkko Nieminen and Benjamin Becker – both 33 years old – have thrived.
Nieminen, who was ranked as high as 13th in the world in 2006 but is now world No. 57, turned on the heat to down third seed Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 in the second round on Tursday.
The ice-cool Finn enjoyed playing in the slower indoor court to put his recent inconsistent form behind him and emerge triumphant over the 27-year-old Mayer.
“You know, I expected it to be tough but I would have been happy even if I lost because I played good tennis,” said Nieminen.
“My ranking is pretty far off... but I had a good first five months last year before I suffered a foot infection, then it all went downhill.
“But I’ve always liked indoor courts and, hopefully, I can finish well.”
Becker, whose claim to fame was being the last man to play against Andre Agassi on the ATP Tour, was calm and composed en route to beating 23-year-old Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
“It was a big match for both of us... but I was a little luckier than him,” said Becker, who made the final of the Topshelf Open in Holland this year.
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