Arnaud Clement sails past Ricardas Berankis into final two – Orleans Challenger 2011
Local Arnaud Clement sailed past Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis into the final two of the 2011 Orleans Challenger in France on Saturday, 22nd October. Playing for only seventy minutes on the court, Clement secured a simple,
straight sets 6-3, 6-4 victory over the higher ranked Lithuanian.
Playing each other for the second time, Clement managed to equal his head-to-head with Berankis bringing it to one match win each. Earlier in Brisbane, Berankis had gotten the better off the Frenchman enjoying a similar victory.
However, riding the local support, Clement was able to turn the tables. Opening serve, Berankis lost no points as he made it onto the scoreboard. Followed closely by the Frenchman, the pair kept the score tied for the first four
games as neither let up on their service games. Capitalising on an errant Lithuanian in the fifth game, Clement was able to convert a breakpoint opportunity to his advantage going 3-2 in the lead, extending it to 4-2 on his service. As the match progressed
on successive service holds, Clement stood to receive at 5-3. Breaking his opponent once again, the Frenchman was able to close out the set with a 6-3 win.
With six aces and two double faults, Clement managed an impressive 88 percent win on his 80 percent first serve as he clinched a total of 31 of 53 points to go one up in the set score.
The second set followed a comparatively competitive note than the first set. Clinching an early breakpoint opportunity, Clement was able to go 3-0 in the lead. However, Berankis was able to break back in the fifth game before holding
serve in the sixth game to bring the score to even terms. The score progressed on serves from there on till 5-4, when Clement broke his opponent for the final time to clinch a 6-4 win, sealing his straight sets victory.
Although Berankis hit four aces to Clement’s zero along with a 64 percent first serve, he lost out the set with only three points, clinching 25 to the Frenchman’s 28. With similar stats throughout the match, the scales only tipped
in the local’s favour due to the crowd support.
Clement now moves into the final of the event where he will play his much higher ranked compatriot, Michael Llodra for a shot at the title.
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