Carlos Berlocq bounces over Marinko Matosevic to reach round two – China Open 2012
Argentinean star, Carlos Berlocq, got the better of the Australian challenger, Marinko Matosevic, in a three-set thriller at the China Open 2012 on Sunday. He hit back to register a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 success over the world number 58 to secure a spot in the round
of 16 at this outdoor hard court event held in Beijing, China.
The Buenos Aires resident remained focused throughout the battle, eventually pulling out the victory in one hour and 54 minutes. Battling each other for the first time, Berlocq not only edged in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2
Head Series by 1-0 against the Aussie but also booked a spot in the pre-quarters at the National Tennis Center.
The 27-year-old made a convincing start at this ATP World Tour 500 Series event. He broke the opening serve of Berlocq and cruised to a 3-0 lead. Matosevic held his composure and kept his remaining serves with poise, eventually sealing the opener by winning
six games to three.
Berlocq rebounded in the proceeding set. After Matosevic held his serve in the fourth game, the Argentine unleashed his skills and bagged the last four games. He smoothly swiped his entire serves without facing any real challenge and cashed in both break
chances, eventually pulling out the equaliser with a 6-2 score line.
Ranked 50th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Berlocq kept momentum rolling in the following set he got the coveted break in the second game and jumped to a 2-0 lead. Regardless of failing to fend off the lone breakpoint he
faced in the very next game, the Argentine stayed focused and kept his remaining serves with poise. He got the breakthrough in the eighth game and clinched the decider with a 6-3 score line.
Berlocq will square off against the winner of the match between top seed Novak Djokovic and the German qualifier, Michael Berrer.
The German challenger, Florian Mayer, faced a better fate later that day. He crushed the Italian star, Fabio Fognini, with a breadstick to advance. Mayer broke his opponent’s serve four times to manipulate a 6-1, 6-2 score line.
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