By Mark Elkington
MADRID, Oct 18 - Belgian Kristof Vliegen won a
third-set tie break to upset eighth-seeded American James Blake
6-4 3-6 7-6 in the second round of the Madrid Masters on
Wednesday.
Blake has won five titles this year and came into the tie
having won back-to-back tournaments in Bangkok and Stockholm.
It was, however, the 24-year-old Vliegen, the straight-sets
winner of the only previous encounter between the two earlier
this year, who started stronger.
He broke Blake's opening service game and held firm to take
the first set with some controlled tennis.
The American was clearly frustrated and struggled to find
his range until he broke Vliegen midway through the second to
get back into the match.
Blake looked to be in control as he raced to a 3-1 lead in
the third but his opponent struck back to go 4-3 up.
Again the match swung Blake's way as he broke back but he
then lost his serve again to take the set to a tie break.
Both players made errors until Vliegen served out with an
ace to take the tie break 7-5 after just over two hours of play.
Earlier, in-form tenth-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, who
lost in the final in Vienna last week, overcame Thailand's
Paradorn Srichapan 7-5 6-7 6-4.
Last year's semi-finalist American Robby Ginepri knocked out
12th seed Mario Ancic of Croatia in straight sets 7-6 7-6 and
Germany's Tommy Haas eased past Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia 6-3
7-6.
World number two and second seed Rafael Nadal begins the
defence of his title later on Wednesday, taking on qualifier
Mardy Fish of the United States.
Last year's runner-up and third seed Ivan Ljubicic faces
Britain's Andy Murray, ninth seed Marcos Baghdatis plays Russian
Marat Safin who won the tournament in 2004, and Spaniard Juan
Carlos Ferrero plays Sweden's Robin Soderling.