PROGRESS: Aisam and his partner Zimonjic defeated Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan to win 6-4, 6-4. PHOTO: FILE
The duo overcame challenges from Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan to win in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
It was a change in fortunes for Aisam and Zimonjic, who had lost their first event of the year – the Qatar Open. They crashed out after losing their opening round to the unseeded Austrian pair of Julian Knowle and Philipp Oswald 7-5, 6-7(5), 3-10.
Radwanska upset by Muguruza
A tough playing schedule caught up with world number six Agnieszka Radwanska when she was dumped out in the first round of the Sydney International yesterday.
Spain's Garbine Muguruza, who won last year's Hobart International as a qualifier and is currently ranked 24, fought back after dropping the opening set to beat the Polish third seed 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.
It is the first tournament that Radwanska, coming off Poland's win in the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth, is playing under new coach and tennis great Martina Navratilova.
"Yes, I am a little bit tired; the last couple of matches were pretty long," said Radwanska of her recent Hopman Cup campaign.
Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon champion and Czech second seed Petra Kvitova was too strong for China's Peng Shuai, winning 6-1, 7-5.
Fellow Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova knocked out Australia's top-ranked player Samantha Stosur 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 and will face defending champion Tsvetana Pironkova in the next round.
Pironkova advanced when American youngster Madison Keys was forced to retire with a right shoulder injury.
Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro ousted Russian sixth seed Ekaterina Makarova 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to progress to a quarter-final against the Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova, who trounced American Nicole Gibbs 6-0, 6-0.
Del Potro wins first match in 10 months
Juan Martin del Potro savoured the thrill of being on court again by winning his first match in 10 months since wrist surgery at the Sydney International yesterday.
The giant Argentine, who is defending his Sydney title on a wildcard after his ranking sank to 338 due to his inactivity, had a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win over Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky.
"It was a great moment for me. I think I played well to be in my first match after 10 months," he said.
In another encounter, Australian Bernard Tomic beat Igor Sijsling of Netherlands 6-1, 6-2.
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