Teymuraz Gabashvili was once again in unstoppable form today in Moscow as he backed up a straightforward first round win with a 6-2. 6-3 demolition of number three seed Viktor Troicki. All three previous meetings between the two had gone the Serb’s way (including a 6-3, 6-1 thrashing they last time they met, in Doha in 2011), but the Georgian-born Gabashvili is a player who feeds off of his confidence and when he’s on his day few can live with the pace of his groundstrokes.
He’s a man of ups and downs. Capable of reaching the fourth round of Roland Garros and knocking out Murray in Washington but also of stringing together four consecutive first round exits, as he did between February and March. Today, unfortunately for Troicki, it was an inspired Gabashvili who stepped out onto the court and, spurred on by his home fans, claimed his way into the quarter finals having only dropped eight games in the opening two rounds.
The other player to make it to the quarter finals today was Robin Haase, who is quietly going about his business this week in Moscow. The Dutchmen scraped past fifth seed Pablo Cuevas in three sets in what is his first ATP Tour event since the US Open.
There was also plenty of first round action today. 2009 champion Youzhny continued with his slump and was upset by compatriot Aslan Karatsev 6-4, 6-4, Lucas Pouille advanced after Simone Bolelli retired in the second set, Ricardas Berankis defeated Malek Jaziri in straight sets and Denis Istomin set up a meeting with number one seed and defending champion Marin Cilic after overcoming Aljaz Bedene in straight sets.
