Benjamin Balleret outlasts Thomas Muster in 1st round – San Marino CEPU Open 2011 CH
Starting off on Monday, 8th August 2011 were the first round fixtures of San Marino CEPU Open 2011, an ATP Challenger Tour event. Played at the Centro Tennis Cassa di Risparmio di Fonte dell'Ovo in the City of San Marino,
the ATP event had already seen eye opening matches however, Benjamin Balleret gave another of his startling performances in the 1st round against Austrian Thomas Muster. Coming up from being a set down, the Monacan overpowered the Austrian to take
away the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Thomas Muster is an “old dog” in tennis. Having started way back in 1985, the former world No.1 has been crowned with 44 titles in his times of stardom. Although he is 43 and was playing against a 28-year-old, the former top world
managed to give a scare to the Monacan albeit a temporary one.
On the other hand, Balleret has been performing to his best. Clearing his qualifier round effortlessly, the Monacan world No.432 came back in the match after being one set down. Even though playing the former clay lord, Thomas
Muster, the Monacan proved to be more lucky.
Kicking off with the first match of the first round, Balleret served to open the set and the scorecard 1-0. Winning the first breakpoint of the match, the 28-year-old broke the former world No.1 leading 2-0. Muster won his first
game, 4th, and then the 6th game when scores read 4-2.
Thomas Muster mustered the next 4 games, breaking the Monacan 2 times in game 7 and game 9 and at last took away game 10 to win the set 6-4.
Balleret, shocked by the first set loss, came back strong in the second set. Muster had last of his stamina used in the second set however, the Monacan had it all covered this time. The 28-year-old once again served first opening
the scoreboard 1-0. Muster levelled it up in the following set 1-1. The next 4 games were the toughest battle of the match. Breaking each other back-to-back, the two came level once again on 3-3.
The scores once again levelled at 4-4 and then on 5-5. Balleret played his best card winning on his serve and breaking the former world No.1 in the last to bag the set and finally levelling the match score to 1-1.
With the decider set setting off, the Monacan seemed stronger than the old Muster. Surely, the 43-year-old had his stamina broken down in the 3rd set. Balleret once again served the opener for the set and took the lead
1-0. Winning a breakpoint of the 4th game, the 28-year-old increased his lead to 3-1 and then to 4-1 in the next.
Muster could one only win one game before the match was finished off by the world No.432 as he won the set 6-2.
Balleret now sits in the 2nd round of the San Marino CEPU OPEN 2011. The Monacan will now face Marc Gicquel, sixth seeded Frenchman, for the quarter-final round seat.
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