The doubles draw is out, Boggo plays with Vladimir Obradovic again, they play wild cards Jeremy Blandin and Izak Van Der Merwe.

think they won the dubs.

looks like boggo and vlad are devloping a decent partnership, i expect to see them play baton rouge together too (if vlad leaves florida that is, maybe he doesnt?).

i had thought alex would team up with jamie tho, of couse with jamie beign ill is not going to happen but maybe jamie and alex's ranking wouldnt be high enough to get in anyway?

but would be good for them to play together for DC reasons etc.

Alex mat start to struggle to make cuts in the better challengers now

report:

Former tennis great Brad Gilbert had plenty of advice for his protégé Alex Bogdanovic after Bogdanovics first-round match in the Tallahassee Challenger.


Bogdanovic, an Englishman, knew exactly what was coming after squandering one opportunity after another to become the professional tournaments second upset victim, losing to Thiago Alves of Brazil.

Bogdanovic, the sixth seed, won consecutive crucial points but couldnt find the consistency to avoid falling 6-4, 7-6 (2) Tuesday at Forestmeadows. Every rally by Bogdanovic was matched by well-placed shots from his stubborn Brazilian opponent.

Gilbert, wearing dark sunglasses, tried to encourage Bogdanovic by applauding every time his enthusiasm picked up.

He needs to fire himself up a little bit, Gilbert said. Alexs body language needs to be a little more positive. He was playing too tentative on his service game and on the big points he wasnt playing aggressive enough.

So Alves took advantage. He raced to a 5-0 lead in the tiebreaker, staying ahead on unforced errors that plagued Bogdanovic all afternoon. Bogdanovic took the next two points, but again he faltered.

Unfortunately he played well and got big points, Bogdanovic said. I was trying to mix it up because conditions here are a little windy and the ball is a little heavy.

But he had rhythm and he was hitting well from the back.

Alves moves on to face wild-card entry Jan Vacek, while Bogdanovic will hang around to play in the doubles bracket.

Fifth-seed Kevin Kim moved into the second round by beating German Benedikt Dorsch 6-4, 6-2. Four other seeded players were in action Tuesday, including No. 2-seed Bobby Reynolds.

Reynolds met his doubles partner, Rajeev Ram. Prior to that, Robert Kendrick (No. 3) turned back Ivan Miranda 6-3, 6-4, but No. 7-seed Brendan Evans wasnt as fortunate. He lost a three-set marathon to Ryan Sweet, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.

The eight-seed Frederic Niemeyer met Alex Kusnetsov.

Bogdanovic didnt go easily against Alves after losing the first set. He broke Alves for a second time in the match, then held serve to force a 5-5 tie in the second set.

Alves second-guessed every winner that Bogdanovic hit, especially in the deciding set when he closed the gap by breaking the Brazilians serve. Alves was up 15-0 and trailing on the ensuing point when Bogdanovic drove a forehand from the baseline that stayed in play by inches.

Alves briefly stared at the spot, then turned to the back judge to plead for the point.

Please, please give me this point, he begged. I rushed so much.

It was to no avail, even after Alves approached the chair umpire for his input.

Bogdanovic took the game and the one that followed, but Alves wasnt done. His drop shots were too much for Bogdanovic to catch up with.

When he came to the net, I tried to put the ball at his feet to make it difficult for him, Alves said. I came here to fight, to stay on the court no matter what happens. I had to keep fighting and thats what I did.