Alberto Brizzi downs Julien Obry in the first qualifier – Morocco Tennis Tour 2012 CH
World number 405, Alberto Brizzi of Italy, bounced back after losing the opener to upset world number 283, Julien Obry of France, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 in the first match of the qualifying draw at the Morocco Tennis Tour, Challenger event
in Marrakech on Saturday.
Obry drew the first blood, breaking the Italian in the second game of the opening set to grab a 2-0 advantage. However, Brizzi did not take much time in bringing the score at par. The French broke Brizzi again in the eighth game
and served it out at 5-3.
The 20-year-old was too erratic on his second serves, delivering five double faults. Brizzi also committed a couple of them. The Italian saved just one of the three break points he faced and could not convert one of the two he
got in the opener.
Brizzi raised his game to an exceptional level and looked a completely different player in the second set. The Italian did not lose even a single game, snatching three breaks of serve to capture it 6-0.
The 27-year-old smashed two aces and captured 12 of the 15 first serve points in the second set. Brizzi did not do well on his second deliveries, as he was able to win just three of the eight points on them. Though, the Italian
was outstanding on the returns, bagging six of the 10 first and seven of the 10 second replies. The right-hander put away all the three break threats he came across and capitalised on three of the five chances he got.
Brizzi and Obry gave a steady performance in the decider, holding their serves in the first nine games to take the score to 5-4 in favour of the former. The Italian made the final breakthrough to close it out 6-4.
The Piancogno, Italy resident was a bit rusty on his second serve but compensated for it by doing amazing job on the first ones, snatching 13 of the 15 points on them.
Brizzi is slated to take on Nikoloz Basilashvili of Russia in the second qualifier. The Russian beat Alexander Rumyantsev in the previous match.
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