Andreas Beck stuns Thomaz Bellucci to top the Green Group – ATP Challenger Tour Finals 2011
A stunning performance from the 105th ranked German, Andreas Beck, surprised everyone in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as he went on to defeat the world number 37, Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil, in the second Round Robin matchup of the Green Group at the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Challenger Tour Finals on Thursday night.
The sixth seed Beck battled hard for one hour and fifty seven minutes of play to overcome the top seeded home favourite in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, reaching the top of the Green Group with two successive victories in the Round Robin.
25-year-old German showed his steely nerves to withstand the fury of the world number 37 and smartly manoeuvred his way to victory in a surprising manner. Beck took hold of the game early by pocketing the opener but the Brazilian favourite bounced back strongly in the next set to bring him down on even terms. Another momentum swing in the final set put Beck in the front seat and the sixth seeded German fully availed his chance to drive away to victory in style.
Beck withstood 13 cracking aces from Bellucci and played brilliant hard-court tennis in the intense pressure situations of the game. Bellucci nailed five break points in the matchup but he was outdone by six timely conversions from Beck to finish on the losing side in the end.
Beck finished at number five in the ATP Year-to-Date Challenger Tour Rankings this season with his consistent performances. He reached the finals of four ATP Challenger Tour events this year, finishing as the runner-up every time, at Kazan, Bath, Oberstaufen and Como. His sublime form was anticipated with magnificent performance from him in the season ending finale but his victory over the top seed Bellucci was hardly expected.
The action took off right from the first set, with both men exchanging a number of serve breaks to get the early advantage. Beck’s four break points were sufficient for him to take the first set at 6-3 but Bellucci nailed two breaks of serve to pocket the second set at 6-4. The top seed Brazilian failed to register any breakthrough in the final set and Beck took the better of him with a timely break point conversion to seal victory at 6-4.
Beck will next take on the third Green Group member, eighth seed Bobby Reynolds, in his last Round Robin matchup. Reynolds also surprised the third seed Martin Klizan on the second day of the tournament.
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