Zib Holds Off Kim, Will Play Roddick Next

Kevin Kim serves it up against Tomas Zib, who went on to win the only main draw match yesterday before weather suspended play. (By Preston Keres -- The Washington Post)

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By Katie Carrera

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 30, 2007; Page E03

Tomas Zib knew he couldn't let Kevin Kim break his serve again, not if he wanted to win the first set. Kim had already used one service break as the catalyst to erase a three-game deficit, and with the set tied at 4, another break could cost Zib not only the set but also the first main draw match of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

Zib saved that break point, rejuvenated his play and threw a wrench in Kim's comeback. Zib went on to defeat Kim in straight sets, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. The first service break was the only one he surrendered all match.

"It was 4-2 when he broke me back. He played a good game, he deserved to break me," said Zib, who advanced to face the tournament's No. 1 seed, Andy Roddick. "If he would break me for the second time it could be very bad for me. I was a bit lucky. I won the first set and I think it was the key of the match."

Zib started out strong, and looked like he would roll through the first set victory when he took a 4-1 lead. But Kim started to force a faster game, and the increased pace taxed the 31-year-old Czech Republic native who is more accustomed to playing in Europe than in Washington at its midsummer muggiest.

"This weather takes a lot of power and it's not easy to deal with," Zib said. "I was just trying to save my game. I was just waiting for my chance, not running too much if I knew I couldn't catch the ball."

After Zib regained the lead with his timely break point save, the first set remained painstakingly close until the tiebreaker. Much like how it started in regular play, Zib jumped out to a four-point lead as Kim pushed the game faster. Kim's desire to maintain a rapid pace wound up making Zib's task in the extra session easier as it led Kim to miss shots.

The momentum from the first-set victory propelled Zib through the second set and left him 3-0 in ATP matches against Kim.

Zib's win was the only main draw match to finish before thunderstorms suspended play. The two other main draw matches that were scratched will be played today.

Three of four remaining qualifying matches wrapped up, with Wayne Odesnik, George Bastl and Wesley Whitehouse each earning a berth in the main draw. All three were seeded in the qualifying.

The final qualifying match between Andre Sa and Somdev Devvarman, the 2007 NCAA men's singles champion from Virginia, will be played today after it was suspended because of the weather.