Carlos Salamanca battles past Nicolas Massu into the second round – Seguros Bolivar Open 2011
World number 175 Carlos Salamanca of Colombia defeated former top ten, Chilean Nicolas Massu, currently ranked 476th in the world, in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the first round at the Seguros Bolivar Open in Bogota,
Colombia on Monday. The Colombian needed an hour and 52 minutes to oust his opponent in a tough match.
Salamanca drew the first blood as he broke the Chilean in the fourth game and held his next service game to grab a 4-1 lead. The Colombian did not allow his opponent to break back and served out the set in the ninth game, clinching
it 6-3.
The six feet and five inches tall fired 69 percent of the first serves and five aces in the first set. Salamanca had a superb conversion rate, winning an incredible 89 percent of the first service points. On the other hand, Massu
served poorly as he hit just 33 percent of the first serves in the opening set. The Chilean managed to win just two of the eighteen first return points. Salamanca converted one of the three break points he received on Massu’s serve in the first set.
Massu came roaring into the second set, breaking the Colombian in the second game and consolidating on it to take a 3-0 lead. Salamanca broke back in the seventh game but failed to hold his serve again in the next game, losing
the set 3-6.
The Chilean was unable to serve to his standard as he failed to hit any ace and committed three double faults in the second set. Massu delivered a meagre 33 percent of the first serves, winning 78 percent of the points on them.
The 31-year-old survived with the help of his accurate returns, sealing 36 percent of the first return points in the second set.
Salamanca regained his form and was almost flawless in the deciding set. The Colombian lost only one game, breaking Massu twice to capture the set 6-1.
The left-hander smacked two aces and 57 percent of the first deliveries in the final set. Salamanca grabbed 85 percent of the first service points and 60 percent of the second service points in the third set. The Bogota resident
did not allow his opponent to create any break point opportunity and converted two of the six break points he received on the Chilean’s serve in the deciding set.
The Colombian is drawn to take on either compatriot Alejandro Falla or another countryman, qualifier Sebastian Lopez in the second round.
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