What is it about the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center that so appeals to Somdev Devvarman?
Is it the 90-degree heat that reminds him of his native India? Is it the cosmopolitan city that welcomes him as an appealing underdog? Or is it the D.C. fans who have adopted him as their own after a stellar career at the University of Virginia, where he won two NCAA singles titles?
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Whatever the reason, magic seems to happen when Devvarman plays at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. Last year, it was a stunning run to the quarterfinals after surviving the qualifying rounds. Tuesday night, Devvarman pulled off his most impressive, and most improbable, win in Rock Creek Park, toppling No. 6 seed Martin Cilic, 7-5, 6-4, in the first major upset of this year’s Legg Mason.
“It was his first match of the event and it was my third of the week,” said Devvarman. “That was an advantage for me.”
In their lone previous meeting, in January in the Chinnai Open, a tournament Devvarman attended as a child in India, Cilic prevailed, 6-4, 7-6. But Tuesday was a reversal of fortune as Devvarman was clutch, winning four of seven break points.
Devvarman also thrived by extending points and playing patiently. Cilic, 20, had an unofficial count of 35 unforced errors to 10 for the 24-year-old Devvarman.
The 5-foot-11 Devvarman looked overmatched at times in the first set against the hard-hitting 6-foot-6, 220-pound Croatian. But after fending off three break points in the eighth game, Devvarman broke Cilic’s next two service games to take control of the set.
In the second set, Devvarman broke Cilic’s serve in the fifth and seventh games. When Devvarman hit a forehand winner to close out the match, he saluted fans with an upraised fist.
Other winners Tuesday included Benjamin Becker, who used 27 aces to beat Robby Ginepri, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (1), 7-6 (4), and prevent a rare all-U.S. match tonight between Ginepri and top-seeded Andy Roddick.
Also needing to win a third-set tiebreaker was Germany’s Rainer Schuettler, who edged Leonardo Mayer of Argentina, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5). Schuettler will play No. 11 seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, the winner to face Devvarman in the round of 16.
Also winning was Juan Carlos Ferrero, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-0, to set up an all-Spain matchup with No. 7 Tommy Robredo.
