Amir Weintraub edges past Kento Takeuchi into the quarterfinals – Wuhai Challenger 2011
Seeded at number three in the tournament, 24-year-old Amir Weintraub of Israel had to go through tough times before overcoming the Japanese qualifier, Kento Takeuchi, in the second round of Wuhai Challenger on Thursday afternoon.
Being played at Wuhai, China, the contest was extended to three sets, with the Israeli competitor finally coming out as the winner in the end. Weintraub wrapped up the match at 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-1, taking two hours and ten minutes
of play to make it into the quarter-finals of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Challenger Tour tournament.
A part from the hard-fought second set, Weintraub was in absolute control of the contest all the way. He clinched the opener comprehensively but lost the second set tie breaker to let the Japanese back in the game. However, the
third seeded Israeli backfired at his opponent in the final set of the match and registered victory in the most convincing manner to reach the round of eight of Wuhai Challenger.
Weintraub took hold of the opening set with his aggressive start to the game, as he secured 18 out of 19 first serve points, while delivering 68 per cent serve on target in the opening set. The first serve break of the day came
in the sixth game, when the third seeded Israeli got into lead at 4-2 to get a substantial position in the game. He went on with his lead and closed out the first set in his favour at 6-3.
Takeuchi played far more competitive tennis in the next set and registered his first break point of the match after four deuces in the 10 game. The second set went into a tie breaker round when the scores got dead locked at 6-6
and the Japanese sensed the opportunity to make his way back in the game. Takeuchi bagged the second set at 7-6(2) but his put up a pathetic performance in the final set to lose the matchup.
Weintraub stung two straight serve breaks in the third set to seal victory at 6-1, getting a pass to the quarter-final of the tournament, where he will face the unseeded Russian Raven Klaasen for a berth in the semis.
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