Arnaud Clement dismisses Nicholas Monroe to qualify for the main draw – AEGON Championships 2011
French Arnaud Clement, ranked 146th in the world, knocked out world number 275 Nicholas Monroe of USA in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the final qualifier of AEGON Championships at Queen’s club in London on Sunday. The match
lasted for just an hour and 24 minutes.
Clement and Monroe convincingly held their serve in the first six games to square off the score at 3-3. The French claimed three consecutive games after that, breaking his opponent in the eighth game and serving out the set at
5-3.
The right-handed had a rock bottom first serve percentage as he hit a meagre 39 percent of the first serves, winning 89 percent of the points on them in the first set. Clement compensated that by winning a whopping 86 percent of
the second service points. In comparison, Monroe kept his first serve percentage at 63 percent, sealing 68 percent of the points on the first serve. The American saved four of the five break points he faced and did not receive any break point on Clement’s
serve in the opening set.
The French broke Monroe in the third game of the second set and held his serve in the next game to go ahead 2-0. The 33-year-old veteran did not allow his opponent to break back, winning the set 6-4.
The five feet and eight inches tall improved his first serve percentage as he delivered 57 percent of the first serves in the second set. Clement converted 85 percent of the first serves into points. On the other hand, the American
fired three aces and 81 percent of the first serves, capturing 59 percent of the points on them in the second set. The 29-year-old had no answer to Clement’s powerful first serves as he won just 15 percent of the first serve return points. The French converted
41 percent of the first returns into points in the second set. The Geneva resident capitalised on one of the two break point opportunities he created on Monroe’s serve and did not face any break point on his own serve in the second set.
In their previous matches, Clement battled past world number 235 Rajeev Ram of USA in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3) in the first round of the qualifying draw. In the second round, the French prevailed over local hope George Morgan
in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(5).
On the other hand, Monroe’s first round opponent retired due to injury, when the Brit won the first set 6-4. The five feet and ten inches tall defeated world number 202 Fritz Wolmarans of South Africa in three thrilling tie-breaks
7-6(5), 6-7(4), 7-6(4) in the second round.
Clement will face compatriot Benoit Paire, ranked 116th in the world, in the opening round of the main draw.
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