Djokovic Wins Basel Opener; Murray, Soderling Advance At Valencia Open

Basel, Switzerland (AHN) – Second-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic, who stunned Swiss master Roger Federer in last year’s finale here, began his title defense with a first-round conquest of Ernests Gulbis Tuesday at the Swiss Indoors.

Djokovic, ranked No. 3, easily dismantled Gulbis 6-4, 6-2 to advance into the next stage of the $1.7 million tournament in Basel.

The reigning champion Djokovic will next play one of two qualifiers; Daniel Brand of Germany or Finn Jarkko Nieminem.

Djokovic ended Federer’s run of three consecutive Basel titles by defeating the hometown hero in the 2009 finale.

In the second round, Djokovic will be joined by Davis Cup teammates Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki.

Troicki trounced Michael Berrer in straight sets, while Tipsarevic bested Denis Istomin to set up a second-round clash against former champion Federer.

Sixth-seeded Croat Marin Cilic also advanced into the second round after thumping Swiss favorite Marco Chiudinelli 6-3, 6-3.

Other Day 2 winners include Argentine star David Nalbandian, France’s Richard Gasquet, Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev and Santiago Giraldo of Columbia.

In Valencia, Spain, top-seeded and defending champion Andy Murray and second-seeded world No. 5 Robin Soderling led first- round winners Tuesday at the Valencia Open.

Murray, ranked No. 4, kept his title defense on track with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) victory over Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, while French Open finalist Soderling demolished Spain’s Albert Montanes in 6-1, 6-4 fashion.

Murray defeated Russian Mikhail Youzhny in last year’s Valencia finale. Youzhny, seeded fifth this week, will open his 2010 Valencia campaign against Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas Wednesday.

Fourth-seeded Spanish favorite David Ferrer also reached the next stage after prevailing over countryman Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-3.

While Russian star Nikolay Davydenko, seeded sixth, blitzed past crowd favorite Javier Marti in straight sets.

Tuesday’s advancers also include Spaniards Daniel Gimeno Traver and wild card Pablo Andujar, Potito Starace of Italy and Argentine veteran Juan Ignacio Chela.

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