2011 Movistar Open, Last of the Chileans ousted in opening clashes
Following in the footsteps of compatriots, Paul Capdeville, and, Jorge Aguilar, the last of the remaining locals, Felipe Rios, and, Nicolas Massu were ousted from the 2011 Movistar Open in their first round clashes.
A wildcard at the event, former world number nine, Nicolas Massu, is a two time finalist at the event, but the local has failed to enjoy a successful final run since 2007. Ranked 210th in the world, Massu, is hopeful to return to his former glory
though it is clear that the Santiago event is not the first rung of that ladder.
Banking on the home court advantage, Massu hoped to sail into the second round after dismissing his opponent, qualifier Caio Zampieri. Especially since the latter is not only ranked a hundred places below but is also playing his first tour level match. However,
things don’t always go the way one wants.
In a hard fought battle between the two, Massu was embarrassed in straight sets. Going toe to toe in the first set, the pair managed to keep the score tied pushing the set into a tiebreaker. Even in the tiebreaker neither player would let up keeping the
score levelled for fourteen points.
It was only on the fifteenth point that a powerful ace and an excellent winner gave Zampieri the break he needed. The Brazilian was able to go one up in the set score with a 9-7 win in the tiebreaker.
The second set went on in the same manner. A neck to neck run between the two kept the score levelled for ten games. Breaking service in the eleventh and then winning the twelfth on his own, Zampieri, was able to secure a 7-5 win in the second set and seal
his first tour level straight sets victory.
The Brazilian struck 5 aces, saved 5 of 7 break points and lost only 37 percent points on service in almost three hours to ensure his survival at the event.
Joining his countrymen’s fate, wildcard entrant Felipe Rios also failed to make it past the first round as he was humiliated by Portuguese Rui Machado in their first ever tour level meeting.
Ranked outside the top 1000 in the world, it only made sense when Rios lost to Machado especially with the latter being in the top 100. Home court advantage can only do so much after all.
Wrapping up the match in less than an hour, Machado lost only two games to seal his straight sets victory over the local. Breaking service twice in the first set, Machado was able to clinch a 6-2 victory for himself which he coupled with a spectacular bagel
set win in the second set.
The Portuguese converted a total of 5 of 5 break opportunities and loss only 13 of 42 points on service to move on ahead in the event.
Machado will next play third seed and defending champion, Thomaz Bellucci while Zampieri will next play fourth seeded, Juan Ignacio Chela.
Tags: