Carlos Berlocq beats Thomas Fabbiano in opening round – Todi Challenger 2011
Carlos Berlocq, seeded No.1 in the Todi Challenger, played his 1st round match against local lad, Thomas Fabbiano here on Tuesday, 13th of September. Easing away with the fixture, Berlocq dismantled the Italian
in an hour and 14 minutes winning 6-2, 6-2 to drive off into the 2nd round of the ATP Challenger tour.
Ranked world No.68, Berlocq played his 2nd head-to-head match against the Italian to extend his lead to 2-0. The Argentine entered the Challenger after he lost to the world No.1, Novak Djokovic in the 2nd round
of the US Open 2011. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old proved worthy of his ranking with his win in the 1st round.
Winning the toss, Fabbiano cranked up the started with his serve. With a commanding start, Berlocq broke early in the match and pressurized the Italian from the beginning. Winning the first two games, the top seed switched to served
back to his rival.
Berlocq again took away 2 straight games, game 4 and 5, with a breakpoint win in the second game won to lead 4-1. Serving out 2 out the 3 games, the world No.68 bulldozed the local lad and took away the first set winning 6-2 and
led the match 1-0.
With the second set on its way, Fabbiano served first again to save a close breakpoint and lead the set 1-0. Levelling the scores immediately, the top seed nicked away with game 2 and went on breaking the Italian on his serve next.
With scores at 2-1, Berlocq took away game 4 as well before Fabbiano cut the lead to 3-2 winning game 5.
The world No.68 extended his lead to 4-2 before he broke the Italian for the second time in set 2 to lead 5-2. With the decider game on its way, the Argentine ended the set, 6-2, and the match 6-2, 6-2, with a strong backhand shot
and walked away with the win.
Statistically, the two equalled the percentage of 1st serve accuracy. However, Berlocq had a winning percentage of 96 against 58 of the Italian. Breaking the local lad 4 times added to the 28-year-olds winnings. Securing
34 service points and 25 returners, the successor totalled 59 points to his win with a ticket to the second round.
Berlocq will now play Guillermo Olaso in the 2nd round match of the Todi Challenger 2011 to battle it out for the 3rd round seat. Seemingly, the top seed is predicted to win. However, the Spaniard had a reputation
to upset the event with his startling comebacks.
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