Alejandro Gonzalez edges past Sebastian Decoud into second round – Medellin Challenger 2011
Alejandro Gonzalez, Columbian world no.284, played a fiery first round fixture of Medellin Challenger 2011 against Argentine world No.289, Sebastian Decoud, on Monday, 31st of October. It took the 22-year-old three hours and 19 minutes to end up the hard hitting clay match at 7-6(4), 3-6, 7-6(2).
Commencing with the match, Gonzalez fired up serving the match starter rolling down the scoreboard, 1-0, with a startling triple game point win. Following with a similar game win; Decoud served out his first win of the set and levelled up the scores, 1-1.
With the two winning games of respective serves, settled at 2-2 and then on 3-3 before the Columbian struck. Serving out game 7, 4-3, Gonzalez broke the Argentine in game 8 to lead the set, 5-3. Breaking back right away, Decoud pulled back the lead with a super break-n-serve to level up the scores at 5-5.
The set eventually went into a tiebreaker with Gonzalez serving first for the set decider. Settling up at first at 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3, the Columbian struck, surprising the Argentine with straight point wins and taking away the tiebreaker, 7-4, the set, 7-6(4) and led the set, 1-0.
Struggling in the opener, Decoud continued with serving first in set two. Rolling down the scoreboard, the Argentine bagged the opening game, 1-0, however, was followed up by the Columbian hitting back with an equalizer, 1-1.
Winning away a game each next, two levelled up, 2-2, before the Argentine took his strike. Serving out game 5, Decoud broke the 22-year-old in game 6, 4-2, and served out the next, game 7, to lead the set, 5-2. With just one more game left to finish off the set, the veteran served out one out of the last two games captivating the set, 6-3, and equalling up the match scores, 1-1.
With the match flaring up, the two went on with the decider set as Gonzalez served in; however, the 30-year-old broke the Columbian in the set opener and served out game 2 to bag two straight games and lead the set, 2-0. Cutting down the lead, the 22-year-old struck with a serve-n-break to level back up the scores, 2-2.
The match boiled up as the two won one game each and equalled up at 3-3 before they broke each other one-after-the-other in the next two games, and once again, levelled back up at 4-4. Intensifying as it could get, the two repeatedly won and broke each other and ended up again in a decider tiebreaker.
Gonzalez opened up the tiebreaker and won the first point, however, the Argentine fired up an equalizer next, 1-1. However, with one more win and levelling at again at 2-2, the Columbian blistered astonishing ground strokes, ousting his rival and winning the tiebreaker, 7-2, the set, 7-6(2) and the match with a remarkable comeback.
Through to the second round of the ATP Challenger Tour, the 22-year-old will now play fifth seed, Paul Capdeville as the two collide in round 2 for the quarter-final spot.
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