Carlos Berlocq, Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo advance to the second round of Sony Ericsson Open
Carlos Berlocq defeats Jack Sock 7-5, 7-6(6)
World number 72 Carlos Berlocq of Argentina prevailed over wild card entrant, world number 595 Jack Sock of USA in straight sets 7-5, 7-6(6) in the first round at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Thursday. It took the Argentine 2 hours and 20 minutes to beat his opponent.
Berlocq broke his opponent in the eleventh game and held his serve in the next game to win the opening set 7-5. The Argentine managed to win the set despite serving poorly as he committed 5 double faults and delivered just 51 per cent of the first serves. However, Sock served worse, hitting 49 per cent of the first serves and winning just 37 per cent of the points on them in the first set.
In the second set, Berlocq and Sock broke each other twice, taking the set to a tie-break. Berlocq played a superb point to claim a mini-break in the tie-break, winning it 8-6.
The Argentine fired in 56 per cent of the first serves in the second set, winning 70 per cent of the points on them. The 28-year-old saved 5 of the 7 break points he faced in the set. In comparison, Sock could not save both break points he faced in the second set.
Berlocq will meet world number 31 Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in the second round. This will be the first meeting between these two.
Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo beats Adrian Mannarino 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-2
Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo of Spain battled past Adrian Mannarino of France in three thrilling sets 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-2 to move to the second round.
Ramirez-Hidalgo took the lead as he broke Mannarino in the third game of the opening set. However, the French broke back immediately to level the score at 2-2. Both players held their serves in the next eight games to level the score at 6-6. Ramirez-Hidalgo claimed three mini-breaks in the tie-break, winning it 7-3. The Spanish delivered just 40 per cent of the first serves, converting 94 per cent of them into points.
The second set again went to a tie-break. However, this time it was Mannarino who clinched the mini-breaks in the tie-break to win it 7-3. Mannarino capitalized on 2 of the 4 break points in the second set.
After losing a close second set, Ramirez-Hidalgo dominated the deciding set as he broke his opponent twice, winning the set 6-2. The Spanish saved the only break point he faced in the third set. On the other hand, Mannarino managed to save just one of the 3 break points in the deciding set.
Ramirez-Hidalgo is slated to face world number 7 Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in the second round.
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