Abierto Mexicano Telcel Men’s First Round: Santiago Giraldo ousts Albert Ramos-Vinolas
Columbian tennis player Santiago Giraldo faced Spanish pro Albert Ramos-Vinolas at the first round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, defeating the qualifier in three gruelling sets 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. The match, which was held at the Fairmont
Acapulco Princess, took over two hours and thirty-seven minutes before Giraldo emerged as the victor. The Columbian player recovered from a set down to defeat his opponent.
The first round of the match was an easy victory for Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who is currently ranked World Number 111. He did not score any aces, but saved two of three break points and converted two against Giraldo during the set. In addition to this,
he scored four points more than his opponent to win the opening set 6-4.
Spectators assumed that the Spanish pro would overthrow his Columbian opponent to win their first meeting, but Giraldo seemed to make a miraculous recovery in the second set. Although he was clearly exhausted, the World Number 48 used all his resources
to combat his opponent, who was in surprisingly good form. Although Ramos-Vinolas managed to score two aces in the second set, he was also unable to defend one of two break points and could not maintain his momentum. Giraldo won the second set 7-5, scoring
one point more than his opponent.
Subsequently, the match went into a tie-breaker to determine a winner for the first round. Giraldo seemed boosted by his victory in the preceding set, and kept up the performance by playing as well as he could. Although both players managed to score
an ace apiece, Giraldo successfully defending five of seven break points. In addition to this, he also converted three of four break points against Ramos-Vinolas. Giraldo won the last set 7-5 by amassing an impressive 53 percent of the total points.
The match consisted of a total of seventeen service and return games apiece and 214 points. Giraldo won a total of 108 points, two more than his Spanish opponent. The final score-line was 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. This is the first meeting between the two players.
Santiago Giraldo has been climbing up the charts since he turned pro in 2006. The player, who will turn 24 years old this year, also plays for the Columbian Davis Cup team. He achieved a career-high ranking of World Number 47 earlier this year, and
is currently ranked one spot lower. He has played in sixteen matches so far this year, with this being his eleventh victory.
The Columbian tennis pro will face either Spanish fifth seed Albert Montanes, or main-draw participant Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the second round of the clay tournament.
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