Tursunov makes progress

Champion edges out fellow Russian in Indianapolis

Last updated: 15th July 2008

dmitry tursunov

Tursunov: Winning start

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Dmitry Tursunov reached the second round of the Indianapolis Championship with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Igor Kunitsyn.

The reigning champion rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to maintain his hopes of a successful title defence.

However, the Russian is playing down his chances of overcoming a strong field for a second successive year.

"I don't really feel like the defending champion and I don't think people expect me to be the guy to win with James (Blake) and Tommy (Haas) in the field," said the world number 33.

"But in tennis anyone can win a match. Last year, everyone here thought it would be Blake and (Andy) Roddick in the final. Instead it was me and Frank Dancevic."

Tursunov, meanwhile, accepts he must improve his serving if he is to make further progress this week.

"I had a very low first serve percentage, but he couldn't attack me," he said.

"The key for me is not to get upset. I have to try and work things out."

French second seed Gilles Simon also made a winning start, beating compatriot Nicolas Mahut 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Simon faces Benjamin Becker in round two after the German knocked out Dane Kristian Pless 6-3 6-4.