Baghdatis/ Del Potro upset Lipsky/Ram in first round – If Stockholm Open 2011
First time duo of Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis and Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro made a winning start in the doubles of 2011 If Stockholm Open on Monday, 17th October as they battled past the American tandem of Scott Lipsky
and Rajeev Ram into the second round of the event.
In a battle that lasted one hour and twenty one minutes, the Cypriot Argentine duo bounced back from a set down to do away with the 15th ranked Americans securing a 4-6, 7-5, 10-6 win. With two titles to their name,
it came as much surprise when the Americans fell to the first time pairing of Baghdatis and Del Potro in the first round.
As expected, the Americans got off to a strong start. After a neck-to-neck run for the first three games, the Americans capitalised on a break point opportunity to go 4-2 in the lead. The Americans maintained their lead throughout
as they served out the set to clinch a 6-4 lead going one up in the set score.
What seemed like an easy win, turned into a fight for the American’s survival in the second set. Accomplished individuals in singles, Baghdatis and Del Potro made an impact in the second set as they matched the American’s blow
for blow. With neither team letting up, nor facing or converting any breakpoint, the scoreboard kept ticking on even terms all the way up to five games each. Serving out the eleventh game, the tandem of Baghdatis and DelPo broke their opponents in the twelfth
game to clinch a 7-5 win, forcing the match into a super tiebreaker.
The neck-to-neck run between the two teams continued well into the super tiebreaker. For the first six points, neither team took the lead. However, the lower ranked duo kicked into high gear as they edged into a 9-3 lead. With
one point away from their win, the Americans made the eventual winners fight tooth and nail for it. Reeling off three straight points, Lipsky/ Ram managed to reduce the deficit to 6-9. However, the bounce back was short-lived as Baghdatis/DelPo clinched the
final point to secure a 10-6 win and ensured their survival at the event.
Baghdatis and Del Potro now move into the second round of the event where they will play the third seeded tandem of German Christopher Kas and Austrian Alexander Peya or the Israeli team of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.
Also moving ahead with the Cypriot Argentine team was the duo of German Frank Moser and Belgium Xavier Malisse. The winning duo moved ahead with their own upset as they defeated the higher ranked duo of Paul Hanley and d**k Norman
with a 7-6(4), 6-3 win.
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