ROME — Ernests Gulbis has moved into the second round of the Internazionali BNL D’Italia by defeating Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 6-2.

The result now matches him with world no.1 Roger Federer in the second round, the second time the two will meet this season.

Past results would have the game going in favor of the Cypriot, having beaten Gulbis in their four previous meetings, but it had to be noted that none of these victories had come on clay. Also, it must be said that this season Baghdatis has been below his best on the red surface.

Early advantage was with Gulbis, breaking Baghdatis on his first service of the game. The momentum would not change for the remainder of the opening set as Gulbis went on to break his opponent one more time to take the set 6-2.

Again in the second set Gulbis wasted little time in giving himself an early advantage, this time breaking Baghdatis on his second service game, while remaining solid on his own serve.

When he broke the Cypriot for a fourth time it spelled an early return home for Baghdatis as Gulbis’ stayed resolute on serve to clean up the second set 6-2.

Gulbis certainly has the game to beat the Fed express, having pushed him to three sets earlier this season only to, in the words of Federer himself, lose the game on his own doing. His adoring fans will be hoping that Gulbis will not make the same mistake second time round.

This article is free to view. To read Baltic Reports’ subscription-only articles, click here.