Cedrik Marcel-Stebe outhits Fabio Fognini to make it to the quarterfinals – Mercedes Cup 2011
The 20-year-old German, Cedrik Marcel-Stebe outhit the 24-year-old Italian, Fabio Fognini in a nail biting match of two hours, twenty six minutes and forty four seconds at the TC Weissenhof Court, Stuttgart, Germany. Cedrik Marcel won the match 7-6(5), 6-4 gaining a 2-0 lead in the semi-final.
The first set of the match was the most exhilarating part as Fabio kept hoping back against Stebe. Playing the first serve Fabio; aced two times, had three double faults and managed to win a walloping seventy percent of his first serve even though, his first return points were a bare forty five percent. The home-boy, gave two break points to his opponent, but also managed to win two out of seven breakpoints that were presented to him.
Although Cedrik’s precision faltered three times he put up a good fight by winning two out of the six break point advantages that were presented to him and also managed to throw an ace. While, Fabio was not able to avail the five other breakpoint advantages and lost the set giving Cedrik 1-0. The set was a close duel between both the players. However, Cedrik played the match with great enthusiasm and managed to stick it out by winning the set to a tiebreaker.
The second set saw a quick victory for the left handed German, Even though his serve again faltered and two out of the three double faults hit the net, he managed to win forty eight percent of his total serve points along with a superb return game win of fifty nine percent of total set return points. Out of the total six break point opportunities he availed four and managed to save six break points out of a total of nine making it a sixty seven percent. Therefore, attaining a total of forty five out of eight five and thus achieving a fifty three percent victory.
Although, Fognini had an excellent first serve he was unable to avail the four out of the six breakpoint opportunities that were presented to him. Even though he tried and did manage to win only three break opportunities. His total set points lacked the numbers and were a mere forty out of eighty five total set points. Thus, attaining, a bare forty seven percent of the total set points.
In the overall match, Cedrik played an ace, had six double faults and won fifty one percent of total match service points along with only fifty percent of total match return points and even though his serve was magnetically drawn to the net, he won because of his total match score which was bare fifty one percent as to his opponent who managed to attain a relatively lower score of ninety eight out of a total of hundred and ninety eight total match points.
The current world number 197 has seen many ups and downs this year. He reached his career high ranking of 182 on 4th of July 2011 and then by the 11th of July he fell fifteen places. His last grand slam run was at Wimbledon where he lost in the first round to Grigor Dimitrov losing 5-7, 5-7, 6-7(5).
Marcel-Stebe will be facing Pablo Andujar (ESP) in the semi-final round.
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