Andreas Seppi outplays Igor Andreev to reach the round of eight – St. Petersburg Open 2011
World number 52, Andreas Seppi of Italy, continued his winning streak against the Russian opponent, Igor Andreev, by defeating him in the second round of the St. Petersburg Open on Thursday evening.
Being played on the indoor hard courts of the Petersburg Sports and Concert Complex in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the contest witnessed sheer brilliance of the unseeded Italian to wrap up the three-setter at 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. The Russian veteran hung in the contest for two hours before he let Seppi through to the quarter-finals of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 event.
It was Seppi’s 22nd victory of the current season and the third straight one against Andreev in singles encounters. The Italian had already outplayed Andreev in Bucharest and Moscow earlier this season to improve his head-to-head record by 4-6 against the Russian.
28-year-old Russian veteran was off to a brilliant start and took down in his opponent in the opening set to get the early advantage. Andreev couldn’t hold on his winning momentum and went through a terrible slump in the very next set to let Seppi back in competition. The Italian took the initiative and went on to seize the final set as well to record his third victory against the Russian in the running ATP season.
Both contestants clinched 28 first serve points each in the game but it was Seppi’s ability to convert his break opportunities in the match which gave him the competitive advantage. The Italian registered four out of six serve breaks, while his opponent scored just two break points in the entire matchup to finish on the losing side in the end.
Andreev broke the Italian serve in the second game of the match to lead 3-0 and then held on with his early advantage to close out the first set at 6-3. The Russian got one up early in the contest but Seppi brought him down in the following set, breaking his serve twice in a row to close out the set at 6-2. He further stung two break points in the third set to conclude a convincing victory.
Seppi will take on Croatia’s number one tennis player, fourth seed Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals of the St. Petersburg on Friday night to fight for a place in the semis. The Croat ousted India’s Somdev Devvarman in the second set to earn a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
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