Andreas Seppi battles past Olivier Rochus into the semi-finals – AEGON International 2011
Italy’s Andreas Seppi, ranked 51st in the world, defeated world number 89 Olivier Rochus of Belgium in three thrilling sets 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of AEGON International at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne
on Thursday. It took the Italian an hour and 56 minutes to beat his opponent in a tough contest.
Seppi dominated the opening set, breaking the Belgian in the third and seventh game to win the set 6-2. The Italian fired four aces and 50 percent of the first deliveries in the first set, converting 79 percent of them into points.
While, Rochus kept his first serve percentage at 71 percent, winning 53 percent of the first service points in the opening set. The five feet and six inches tall failed in saving the two break points he faced and could not convert both break points he received
on Seppi’s serve in the first set.
In the second set, the Italian and Rochus failed to break each other’s serve, equalising the score at 6-6 and forcing a tie-break. The Belgian managed to claim a late mini-break in the tie-break, bagging it 7-5. Rochus hit 56 percent
of the first deliveries, capturing 77 percent of the points on them in the second set. On the other hand, Seppi served superbly as he fired five aces and 61 percent of the first serves, sealing 82 percent of the points on them. Both players failed to create
any break point opportunity in the second set.
Seppi and Rochus held their serve in the first six games of the deciding set, squaring off the score at 3-3. The Italian got the breakthrough in the eighth game and consolidated on it to win the set 6-3. The Caldaro resident delivered
63 percent of the first serves and sealed 82 percent of the points on them in the final set. In comparison, Rochus was able to hit 54 percent of the first serves, grabbing 64 percent of the points on them. Seppi capitalised on one of the three break point
opportunities he created on Rochus’ serve and did not face any break point on his own serve in the third set.
The Italian improved to a 8-4 win/loss record at the AEGON International. Seppi lost to Illya Marchenko of Ukraine in straight sets 4-6, 4-6 in the round of 32 last year. The six feet and three inches tall was beaten by Croatian
Ivan Ljubicic in straight sets 6-7(4), 5-7 in 2009. Seppi’s previous best performance came in his maiden appearance here, when he reached the semi-finals, eventually losing to Jonas Bjorkman in straight sets 3-6, 1-6.
The right-handed will meet Russian Igor Kunitsyn, ranked 71st in the world, in the semi-finals. Kunitsyn overcame world number 77 Julien Benneteau of France 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
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