Antonio Veic labours past Andreas Haider-Maurer into quarterfinal – Tennislife Cup 2011 CH
Croat Antonio Veic needed a third set to upset third seeded Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer in a three set thriller at the Tennislife Cup 2011, an ATP Challenger Tour event held on the clay courts at Greenpark Posillipo in Napoli,
Italy. He registered a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) victory over the world number 81, Maurer to reach the last eight on Wednesday.
In a two hours and fifty-three minutes match, the Croat maintained his winning record against Maurer by displaying extra-ordinary skills. He last upset the Austrian at Kitzbuhel, his home soil, and after earning this victory, Veic
booked a quarter-final spot.
23-year-old Croat rapidly made into the €42,500 track as he held entire serves after warding off all five breakpoints came across. He took the first blood to take the lead early on. Veic then converted another breakpoint opportunity
from his five breakpoint chances to his advantage in the last game to bag the opener with a 6-3 score line. He formulated an equal first serve share of 65 percent and registered a plausible 58 percent win on it.
The seed got re-focused his strategy in the second set and raised the level of his game. He failed to save the only breakpoint faced but cashed in on both breakpoint opportunities to his advantage to seal the equaliser with a 6-4
score line. Maurer also formulated a slightly lower first serve share of 71 percent as opposed to Croat’s 75 percent and earned an impressive 70 percent win on it.
Both players brought out their best tennis in the final set and clobbered an acceptable first serve share.
Veic smashed three aces and cashed in the only breakpoint opportunity to his advantage. He also earned an exceptional 68 percent win on his higher first serve share of 57 percent.
The Austrian, on the other side, founded three breakpoint chances but converted one to his advantage. As a result, the set went to a tie-breaker where Veic dominated to seal the deal with a 7-6(5) victory.
The Croat will next face the winner of an all Italian match between wild card enterant Marco Crugnola and Alessandro Giannessi.
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