Bjorn Phau tumbles Martin Fischer to enter round two – Mercedes Cup 2012
Local veteran, Bjorn Phau, stomped over the Austrian rising star, Martin Fischer, in straight sets at the Mercedes Cup 2012 on Tuesday. He penned down a 6-3, 6-3 victory against the world number 246 to power into the second round at this outdoor clay court
tournament taking place in Stuttgart, Germany.
The German star, Phau, got the better of Fischer in almost one and a half hour-long marathon at the Tennis Club Weissenhof. Encountering each other for the first time, Phau not only secured a place in the round of 16 but also took lead in the FedEx ATP (Association
of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head series by 1-0 against the 25-year-old.
Phau made a strong entry at this ATP World Tour 250 series event and drew the first blood in the third game to put his nose ahead. Despite losing his serve in the very next game, the German stroke out the last four games in a row and bagged the opener by
winning six games to three.
Ranked 81st in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Phau carried his rhythm in the follow-up set and held his opening serve with poise. He continued hammering powerful groundstrokes and swiped remaining serves after blocking both
breakpoints he faced. The German got the breakthrough in the eighth game and clinched the set with a 6-3 score line.
All in all, the 32-year-old clobbered a lower first serve share of 50 per cent as opposed to his rival’s 52 per cent but impressively marked 22 out of 30 points on it. He also fended off three out of four breakpoints he came across and cashed in four out
of 10 break chances to register this victory.
The in-form German will next confront the winner of the match between Dutch number one, Robin Haase, and Czech star, Lukas Rosol.
Phau’s compatriot, Tobias Kamke, also stole the show later that day. He was broken once but capitalised on four out of seven break opportunities, eventually formulating a 6-3, 6-4 score line. Kamke committed seven double faults but marked 26 out of 33 points
on his first serve share to pocket the match.
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