Carlos Berlocq, Igor Andreev proceed to the quarterfinals – Copa Claro 2012
Carlos Berlocq beats Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-1
World Number 43 Carlos Berlocq made the biggest upset of the tournament, crushing third seed Gilles Simon in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in the second round at the Copa Claro in Buenos Aires on Thursday. The Argentinean, backed by his home crowd, outclassed the
Frenchman in only an hour and six minutes.
This was Simon’s second straight round of 16 loss. He was beaten by David Nalbandian of Argentina in straight sets 3-6, 2-6 in the second round at the Brasil Open last week.
Berlocq never allowed Simon to settle down, as he broke the Frenchman in the third game of the first set and held his next serve to grab a 3-1 lead. The Argentinean claimed double break in the seventh game and served out the set 5-2. Berlocq’s main weapon
was his serve as he smashed 94 percent of the first serves, winning a total of 89 percent service points.
The Argentinean played even better in the second set, allowing Simon to win only one game and breaking him three times to win 6-1. The 29-year-old utilised three of the four break opportunities he created in the second set.
Berlocq is pitted against compatriot David Nalbandian in the quarterfinals.
Igor Andreev defeats Fernando Verdasco 7-6(3), 6-3
Upsets continued to happen at Copa Claro, as World Number 118 Igor Andreev prevailed over seventh seed Fernando Verdasco in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-3 to move to the last eight. The Russian, Andreev, took an hour and 40 minutes to beat his opponent.
Verdasco and Andreev held their serve with ease in the first six games, squaring off the score at 3-3. The Spaniard saved three break points in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Verdasco made a breakthrough in the eighth game to go up 5-3 but Andreev
broke back immediately to bring the scores 5-4. Both players won their serve in the next three games, evening out the score 6-6 and taking the set to a tie-breaker. Andreev grabbed a couple of mini-breaks to win 7-6.
The Russian took complete control of the match after winning the first set. He broke Verdasco in the second game, building a 3-0 lead. The 6ft 1in tall player did not lose the advantage till the end, clinching the second set 6-3.
Andreev is slated to play second seed Nicolas Almagro in the quarterfinals. Almagro beat Federico Delbonis in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 in the second round.
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