Andreas Haider-Maurer moves into the quarterfinals of 2011 Barletta Open
Austria’s Andreas Haider-Maurer overpowered Dutch Jesse Huta Galung in straight sets at the second round of 2011 Barletta Open. Playing each other for the first time, Haider-Maurer successfully played through to the
next round with a 7-5, 6-1 set score.
Haider-Maurer, ranked 116th in the world, has appeared in three tournaments in the year so far including the Australian Open. As luck was not much on his side, he could not make it to the third
round at any of the tournaments and had to face early exits. At the Australian Open, he entered the tournament knocking out his Belgian opponent Yannick Mertens in the first qualifying round, though he exited the second round losing to Frederik Nielsen of
Denmark in straight set 3-6, 0-6. His last performance for the season came at the Open de la Reunion where he moved past Fritz Wolmarans of South Africa in straights sets, before announcing retirement from the next round.
Huta Galung on the other hand has won nine out of his last seventeen matches in the year so far and had a better start to the year. He reached the semi finals of Noumea, New Caledonia, defeating Florian Reynet, Ivo Klec,
and Gregoire Burquire in the quarterfinals, before retiring against Vincent Millot on account of an injury.
Haider-Maurer has extended his winning streak to 2-1 after surpassing his Dutch opponent. Even though both players entered the field with high hopes and confidence, the Austrian had more determination and energy as
he raced to a lopsided victory in just one hour and thirty three minutes. Haider-Maurer entered the set with his tremendous attacking skills, he hammered 6 aces and 69 per cent of first serves. In spite of the fact that he double faulted three times yet he
managed to convert 65 per cent on them. Nonetheless Huta Galung hit 5 aces, 52 per cent first serves and won 69 per cent on first serves. Though, Huta Galung took lead over his opponent in conversion rate still he couldn’t break back and lost the set 5-7.
In the final set Huta Galung could not compose himself and faltered as he gave up the lead. The Austrian attained an impressive 80 per cent win on first serves as opposed to Galung’s 60 per cent. Breaking his Dutch
opponent in the seventh game, Maurer clinched a bagel win.
Haider-Maurer will meet Thomas Schoorel of Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the tournament. It will be interesting to witness how the Austrian going to handle the massive pressure in the quarterfinals.
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