Benoit Paire, Federico Delbonis qualify for second round – Copa Claro 2012
Benoit Paire beats Javier Marti 2-6, 7-6(0), 6-2
World Number 98 Benoit Paire came back from a deficit of one set, beating qualifier Javier Marti in three sets 2-6, 7-6(0), 6-2 in the first round at the Copa Claro in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, February 21. Paire took two hours and one minute to battle past
the Spaniard.
Marti came close to an upset, as he earned the sole break of the opener and made full use of the advantage to claim the set 6-2. The Spaniard did not deliver any ace and hit one double fault. On the other hand, Paire fired two aces but he put in just 63
percent of the first serves compared to 79 by his lower ranked opponent.
Both players found it difficult to hold their serve in the second set. They broke each other six times in the first 12 games to level the score at 6-6. However, Paire was flawless in the tie-breaker, as he did not lose even a single point and won 7-0.
Paire made an early breakthrough in the third set, claiming a 2-0 lead. The Frenchman captured last three games to bag the set 6-2.
The Avignon, France resident will meet sixth seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round.
Federico Delbonis defeats Frederico Gil 6-2, 6-2
Federico Delbonis of Argentina outplayed his higher ranked opponent, Frederico Gil of Portugal, in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 to ensure his spot in the round of 16. The match lasted for just 53 minutes.
Delbonis broke the Portuguese at the beginning of the match and went ahead 2-0. The Argentinean grabbed another of Gil’s serve in the seventh game and served out the set 5-2. The 6ft 3in tall fired one ace and 70 percent of the first serves, converting 13
of the 16 of them into points. Delbonis saved the only break point he faced and consolidated one two of the three of his own in the first set.
The Argentinean repeated what he did in the opener, clinching first two games to claim a 2-0 lead. The left-hander snatched a break again in the fifth to wrap up the set 6-2. Delbonis’ main weapon turned out to be his first serves, as he did not lost even
a single point on them. The Argentinean won three of the four second return points.
Delbonis is drawn to play second seed Nicolas Almagro in the second round. Almagro outsmarted Potito Starace of Italy in the opener.
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