Nieminen ends hopes for Marsel İlhan


The home crowd at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open will not be able to see their top player face Roger Federer, as Jarkko Nieminen closed the window for Marsel İlhan in the first round. Teenager Cem İlkel's defeat was another upset for Turkish fans on day two. In the third match at the Garanti Koza Arena, İlhan was generous on break points against his experienced opponent from Finland. The 33-year-old Nieminen managed to save all of eight break points to finish the match in 77 minutes in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 and set up a second round encounter against Federer. The 19-year-old Turkish talent Cem İlkel couldn't resist Spanish clay-court specialist Daniel Gimeno-Traver. Winning 24 of 29 first serve points, world No.62 Gimeno-Traver overcame İlkel 6-1, 6-4. Separately, 17 major singles titles holder, the most by any man in history, Swiss star Roger Federer gathered with Turkish kids in a special event at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open. In the organisation being held by the Turkish Tennis Federation, the 33-year old Federer, who's the top seed in Istanbul, gave a tennis clinic to young talents on Garanti Koza Arena.