THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DELRAY BEACH, Florida -- Austrian Stefan Koubek's return from injury continued to gain momentum as he beat American Bobby Reynolds 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships on Monday. "In general, I'm very happy because it was quite easy," said Koubek, who was sidelined for six months after surgery to repair a spinal disk last May. "It was a very solid match." The 266th-ranked Koubek, who won the tournament in 2000, broke serve twice in the first set and once in the second set to secure the win. "I only won three tournaments in my career so if I come back to one of those it's always something special," Koubek said. "It feels kind of strange because it was nine years ago. "I must be an old guy on the tour." Meanwhile Frank Dancevic on Niagara Falls, Ont., qualified for the main draw with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 win over American Wayne Odesnik. Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., failed to qualify after falling 6-4, 6-2 to Russia's Evgeny Korolev. In other first round matches, fifth-seeded Steve Darcis of Belgium was upset by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, 6-3, 6-3, in the opening match of the day. Also, sixth-seeded Florent Serra of France beat Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-3, 7-6 (5). Taylor Dent, also on the comeback trail following two back surgeries in 2007, joined Dancevic, Korolev and American Ryan Sweeting for main draw spots on Monday. Dent, who thought he'd never play again and was out of action from February 2006 to May 2008, captured a 6-3, 6-3 win over Giovanni Lapentti of Ecuador to qualify. Dent will play Mischa Zverev of Germany in the first round on Tuesday.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
ATP: Dancevic qualifies at Delray
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DELRAY BEACH, Florida -- Austrian Stefan Koubek's return from injury continued to gain momentum as he beat American Bobby Reynolds 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships on Monday. "In general, I'm very happy because it was quite easy," said Koubek, who was sidelined for six months after surgery to repair a spinal disk last May. "It was a very solid match." The 266th-ranked Koubek, who won the tournament in 2000, broke serve twice in the first set and once in the second set to secure the win. "I only won three tournaments in my career so if I come back to one of those it's always something special," Koubek said. "It feels kind of strange because it was nine years ago. "I must be an old guy on the tour." Meanwhile Frank Dancevic on Niagara Falls, Ont., qualified for the main draw with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 win over American Wayne Odesnik. Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., failed to qualify after falling 6-4, 6-2 to Russia's Evgeny Korolev. In other first round matches, fifth-seeded Steve Darcis of Belgium was upset by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, 6-3, 6-3, in the opening match of the day. Also, sixth-seeded Florent Serra of France beat Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-3, 7-6 (5). Taylor Dent, also on the comeback trail following two back surgeries in 2007, joined Dancevic, Korolev and American Ryan Sweeting for main draw spots on Monday. Dent, who thought he'd never play again and was out of action from February 2006 to May 2008, captured a 6-3, 6-3 win over Giovanni Lapentti of Ecuador to qualify. Dent will play Mischa Zverev of Germany in the first round on Tuesday.
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