Bernard Tomic demolishes Ernests Gulbis in the first round – Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 2012
Seeded 15th at this event, Bernard Tomic of Australia made his tournament debut in style, as he routed word number 86, Ernests Gulbis, in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the first round at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell
in Spain on Tuesday.
Tomic and Gulbis held their serve in the first three games to take the score to 2-1 in the former’s favour. The Latvian, Gulbis, managed to win only one point in the next two and went down 1-4. Tomic capitalised on the advantage
and served it out at 5-3.
The Australian banged in two aces and pocketed 16 of the 20 points on the first deliveries in the opener. He pressurised Gulbis by his aggressive second returns, cinching nine of the 14 points on them. The right-hander avoided
all the three break threats he came across and utilised one of the five opportunities he created.
Tomic grabbed an early breakthrough in the second set, striking in the very first game and consolidating on it to attain a 2-0 lead. Rest of the set went with the serves and the Australian captured it 6-4.
The 19-year-old pounded a couple of aces and 84 percent of the first serves but also committed one double fault. Tomic had an outstanding conversion rate, as he claimed 17 of the 21 first and three of the four second serve points.
The Australian did not give the Latvian any chance to break and availed the only one he created for himself in the second set.
Tomic required just an hour and seven minutes to undo the Latvian for an easy win.
The Australian said, "I think I played well on my service games. I am starting to move better on the clay and it is the best I've played so far. Hopefully in the next round [against Albert Montanes], I'll be ready to run and be
physical with him. I think I'll need to play a little more aggressively and be patient at times."
This was just the second win of Tomic on clay courts in this season, as he claimed his maiden victory of this year at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters last week, when he defeated Denis Istomin in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in the first
round.
The Australian is slated to face Albert Montanes of Spain in the second round. Montanes beat compatriot, Gerard Granollers-Pujol, in straight sets 7-5, 6-2 in the opener.
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