Adrian Menendez-Maceiras upsets Lukas Lacko in first round – Orleans Challenger 2011
Lucky Loser, Adrian Menendez-Maceiras, of Spain squared-off against the Slovakian, Lukas Lacko, in the first round of the Orleans Challenger Tournament, on Tuesday October 17th. The first meeting between the two Internationals
lasted for two hours seventeen minutes and ended up in an exciting three setter; Spanish won the game at the end with a cumulative score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.
World No.256, Menendez-Maceiras, host lost four of his last ten meetings whilst his opponent, World No.124, had lost three; they needed to improve those stats. It was relatively an easy match for the Slovakian on paper considering
his superior ranking and form but it totally went upside down at the pitch.
It was a good start to the match with some exciting rallies and neck to neck battle until the first six games. Slovakian broke his opponent’s serve in the seventh game and took the lead 4-3 but it proved to be his last triumph
in the first set. Spanish broke his serve in the next game and then capitalized on it by winning on his serve and then breaking again to take the first set.
A decent first (54%) and second (67%) serve points winning rates for Spanish and his exciting return shots on second serve of his opponent were enough to seal him the first set. Lacko couldn’t capitalize on his break in the seventh
game but Menendez-Maceiras did when he got the chance. He wrapped up the set by winning 28 out of 48 total points played and hinted a major upset.
Second set was terrific as both players went neck to neck for the first ten games. Lacko was impressive with his power play and delicate shot placements. He had his opponent in some sort of problems but Spanish replied in a stimulating
fashion.
Slovakian broke his opponent’s serve for the second time in the eleventh game and then capitalized on it by winning the next game on his serve. A minor lapse of concentration from the Spanish cost him the set and the stage was
set for an exhilarating third set.
Lacko registered an impressive 92% and 67% first and second serve points winning rate and rounded off the set by clinching 40 out of 72 points played. Lucky loser was very unlucky for not winning the second set after such an exciting
battle.
Lucky loser rocked the crowd in the third set and won it in a comprehensive style. Slovakian failed to create any sort of impact and managed to just win three games whilst his opponent won six on the other hand.
Six break point opportunities were earned by the 25-year-old lucky loser and he managed to clinch the most important one to wrap up the game in dashing mode. Menendez-Maceiras won 96 points and with a minute difference of just
2 points won the match and stunned everyone with his abilities.
Spanish lucky loser will now face-off against the sixth seeded Stephane Robert in the second round of the tournament.
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