Alex Bogomolov Jr. trounces Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the opening round – Australian Open 2012
Russian rising star, Alex Bogomolov Jr. sailed past Spanish competitor, Daniel Gimeno-Traver, in straight sets at the first Grand Slam of the season, Australian Open 2012, on Tuesday. He clobbered a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over the world number 104, Traver, to secure a second round place at the Melbourne Park.
32nd seeded Russian put up a solid display of tennis at this first of the four Grand Slam events held in Melbourne, Australia and trashed the Spaniard in their second meeting. He not only avenged his loss at the qualifiers of this tournament last year but also advanced into the round of 64.
Ranked 34th in the South African Airways ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Rankings, Bogomolov Jr. drew the first blood in the opening game and put his nose ahead in the start of the set. He maintained his form and bagged entire serves without facing any hindrance. The Russian then broke Traver’s serve again in the last game and won the opener with a 6-3 score line.
The 2011 ATP World Tour Most Improved Player of the Year, Bogomolov Jr. lost his ways in the second set and gifted away his serve in the third game. However, he bounced back with a fitting reply and wiped out next five games in a row, sealing the set with a 6-2 win.
The 28-year-old Russian made a shaky start at the third set as he lost his serve in the third game and eventually went 3-1 down. However, Bogomolov Jr. recovered in the sixth game and broke the Spaniard’s serve again in the last game, bagging the set with a 6-4 score line.
“I've been winning a lot of matches,” said Bogomolov Jr. after the match. “I think once you step on the court you have that feeling. The guy you play also knows that. I played plenty against other guys that I looked up their recent history and they won a lot of matches. It certainly gives you a little bit of a different mentality going against those guys. I'm one of those guys right now.”
Awaiting the Russian is the French veteran, Michael Llodra, who earned a comeback victory against the Latvian, Ernests Gulbis, to reach this spot.
Top seed Novak Djokovic will accompany Bogomolov Jr. in the second round. He crushed Italian Paolo Lorenzi with double bagels to advance in this tournament. The Serbian number one lost his serve once but broke Lorenzi’s serve nine times to register a 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 victory.
Tags: