Antonio Veic overcomes Borut Puc in the second qualifier – Bet-At-Home Cup 2011
World number 196 Antonio Veic of Croatia fought back after getting bashed in the first set to beat compatriot, world number 472 Borut Puc in three sets 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the qualifying draw at the Bet-At-Home
Cup in Kitzbuhel, Austria on Sunday.
Veic and Puc held their serve in the first five games to take the score to 3-2 in the latter’s favour. Puc completely dominated the proceedings after that as he broke his countryman in the sixth and eighth game to win the set 6-2.
The Croatian served averagely in the first set, committing a couple of double faults and not hitting any ace. However, he delivered 82 percent of the first serves and won 78 percent of the points on them in the opening set. Puc
made the difference with his offensive returns of serve, claiming 50 percent of the points on the first returns. The Croatian won both break points he received on Veic’s serve in the first set.
The second set did not see either of the two players breaking other’s serve in the first set games to equalise the score at 4-4. Veic raised the level of his game at that moment and broke his opponent in the ninth game, capitalising
on the break of serve and claiming the set 6-4.
The 23-year-old fired 76 percent of the first serves and three aces in the second set. Veic had a decent conversion rate as he converted 68 percent of the first serves and 75 percent of the second serves into points. The Croatian
saved the one break point he faced and capitalised on one of the three break points he received on Puc’s serve in the second set.
Veic carried the winning momentum into the third set and took an early lead, breaking Puc in the third game and winning his serve in the next game to take a 3-1 lead. The Croatian claimed two more consecutive games as he broke
his compatriot again in the fifth game and consolidated on it to grab a 5-1 lead. Serving to stay in the set at 1-5, Puc was able to hold his serve to reduce the trail to 2-5 but he failed to claim any break of serve, losing the set 2-6.
The Croatian had an amazing first service performance as he delivered 100 percent of the first serves, claiming 76 percent of the points on them.
Veic will meet Argentinean Diego Junqueira, ranked 97th in the world, in the final round.
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