Alessio Di Mauro dumps Ilija Bozoljac in qualifiers – BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy 2012
Italian contender, Alessio Di Mauro, crippled Serbia’s Ilija Bozoljac with a breadstick at the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy 2012 on Sunday. He penned down a 7-6(3), 6-1 victory against the 26-year-old to cruise into the final round of the qualifying competition
at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event held in Bucharest, Romania.
The Italian veteran took down Bozoljac in one hour and 50 minutes after showing superb skills at this clay court event. Facing each other for the first time, Di Mauro convincingly advanced into the final round of the qualifying competition.
Di Mauro made a strong start at the BNR Arenas and drew the first blood in the third game to take a 3-1 lead. Regardless of losing his edge in the eighth game, the Italian held his composure and dragged the set to a tie-breaker. He leaped to a 5-2 lead before
sealing the opener with a 7-6(3) score line.
The left-handed Italian kept momentum sailing into the proceeding set and wiped out the opening three games in a row with a break of serve. After the Serb held his serve in the fourth game, Di Mauro maintained his intensity and eventually pulled out the
set with a breadstick.
Overall, the world number 371 fully capitalised on six double faults his Serbian opponent spilled. He produced a slightly lower first serve share of 57 per cent as compared to his rival’s 61 per cent and acceptably availed 27 out of 41 points on it.
Next up for the 34-year-old is the qualifying fourth seed, Guillaume Rufin of France. The French crushed Romania’s Vasile-Alexandru Ghilea with a bagel to set-up this meeting.
The qualifying second seed, Daniel Brands, will join Di Mauro in the final qualifying round. Brands required one hour and 14 minutes ousting the Belgian competitor, Niels Desein, in straight sets. He was never broken down and capitalised on three out of
seven break opportunities to manipulate a 6-4, 6-2 victory. The German also smashed four aces and amazingly clicked 24 out of 28 points on his first serve share of 54 per cent.
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