Benoit Paire outlasts Adrian Menendez in quarterfinal – Todi Challenger 2011
Adrian Menendez MacEiras, the unseeded Spaniard, went on walking down the clay circuit to play his quarter-final round of the Todi Challenger 2011 against the fourth seeded, Benoit Paire, on Friday, 16th September. Playing at the
Umbria Tennis Centre, Italy, the Frenchman made a comfortable seat in the semis beating Spaniard, Menendez in straight sets 6-2, 7-6(2) in an hour and 26 minutes.
The Frenchman consolidated an 8 match winning streak as he went on winning the quarter-final match. Considering the fact that Paire was seeded here and has been in ultimate form, the pundits had already predicted the match to be
a one-way affair. Menendez, who had been playing as an all-rounder, could not prove them wrong and continue his winning run.
Moving on with the opener, Menendez served first and rolled down the scoreboard winning, 1-0. Levelling up with the Spaniard, the 22-year-old cleared game 2 and switched back the serve. With a fiery start, the 2nd seeded
went on breaking the 25-year-old for the first time in the match and led the match 2-1.
The Frenchman went on staggering the Spaniard once again winning 3 back-to-back games and extending his lead to 5-1. Cutting of the lead to 5-2, Menendez bagged his 2nd win and his last for the set. Serving out game
8, Paire went on storming the first set winning 6-2 and led the match 1-0.
Dominating the match, Paire went on returning the first game of the second set, however, lost and served next. Levelling up instantly, the Frenchman world No.115 grabbed the 2nd game and stood to return again. With a
stronger offence, Menendez went on serving out game 3 and breaking the 22-year-old to lead 3-1.
Extending his lead 4-1, the Spaniard lost his defence as he lost the next three games and came up level with Paire. Rallying and returning with strong forehands and net play, the two eventually ended up in a tiebreak game with
the Spaniard to serve first.
With the decider game on its way, Menendez pushed back the Frenchman to the baseline; however, the world No.115 had a greater offence. Playing out the Spaniard with mere difficulty, the Frenchman grazed the tiebreaker winning 7-4,
and the set 7-6(4) to walk away as the successor.
Winning in straight sets, the 22-year-old is now in the semis of the 2011 Internazionali di Tennis dell'Umbria to play against the higher seeded, Filippo Volandri, of Italy to battle it out for the final round. The Italian is predicted
a win due to his home support and his higher ranking.
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