2011 Movistar Open: David Nalbandian moves past Carlos Berlocq in three sets
A former Top 10 player, David Nalbandian got off to a strong start at the 2011 Movistar Open on Tuesday as he successfully dismissed compatriot, Carlos Berlocq in three sets.
In its 18th edition, the Movistar Open is an ATP 250 level event and the first of the season to be played on red clay.
This was Nalbandian’s second clash with his compatriot in a tour level match. Their last meeting had come in 2008 when the pair met in the first round match at the Roland Garros. Clearly, a superior-skilled opponent and a crowd
favourite, Nalbandian was able to extend his head-to-head lead to 2-0; though, Berlocq troubled him to an extent during the first half of the match.
Argentina’s number one, Nalbandian landed a meagre 51 per cent of his first serve as compared to Berlocq’s equally unimpressive 57 per cent. However, cashing on his serve, Nalbandian was able to win 72 per cent of the points. He
broke his opponents’ service twice to clinch a 6-2 win for himself.
Whether it was compassion for his compatriot or just a loss of form in the second set, but it cost Nalbandian the second set. Not only did his first serve percentage drop down to 49 per cent as compared to Berlocq’s 59 per cent,
but Berlocq also matched the percentage of points won on first service. Capitalizing on the six double faults by the error-prone, higher ranked Nalbandian; Berlocq turned the tables and reversed the score to not only secure a 6-2 win for himself, but also
level the set score.
With a one set win each, the pair entered the deciding set. Nalbandian bounced back in the decider, as he once again took the lead and broke service twice to register yet another 6-2 win over his countryman.
In a match that lasted a little less than two hours, Nalbandian saved eight of 11 break points while also managing to convert five of eight break opportunities in his three-set win over Berlocq. Nalbandian registered a loss of
only 39 of 95 points on his service.
An elated Nalbandian told the press after the match, “The conditions weren’t a problem for me today. I am used to this, it is very similar to where I am from in Cordoba. It was more the fact that it was my first clay court match
of the year. It was a tough match which got complicated in the second set but I was able to come back to a good level in the third so I am happy with today’s victory.”
Nalbandian had suffered an injury-plagued season in 2010, which is why the Argentine’s fans were quite pleased to see their favourite back on the courts and performing well this year. Having started with an unsuccessful final run
in the Heineken Open in Auckland, Nalbandian exited the Australian Open in the second round; nonetheless, after ousting his rival and Australian Lleyton Hewitt.
A top seed in the main draw, Nalbandian will next play yet another countryman, Horacio Zeballos.
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