Chela/ Soares defeat Mertinak/ Norman to move to the second round of Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Argentinean/Brazilian pair of Juan Ignacio Chela and Bruno Soares prevailed over Slovakian/Belgian pair of Michal Mertinak and d**k Norman in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 10-7 in the opening round at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Series in Monaco on Tuesday. It took Chela and Soares one hour and 18 minutes to beat their opponents in a hard fought clash.
Both players held their serve in the first four games of the opening set, levelling the set score at 2-2. Chela and Soares completely dominated the rest of the set and won four straight games to bag the first set 6-2.
The Argentinean/Brazilian pair fired 70 per cent of the first serves and won 75 per cent of the point on them in the opening set. Mertinak and Norman had a better first serve percentage as they delivered 73 percent of the
first serves but their conversion rate was poor as they converted just 44 percent of the first serves into points. The Slovakian/Belgian pair managed to save just one of the three break points they faced in the first set.
After losing a one-sided opening set, Mertinak and Norman fought back and took the lead early in the second set. The duo broke Chela and Soares in the in the fourth game and held its serve in the next game to take a 4-1 lead.
They consolidated on the single break of serve, sealing the second set 6-3.
Mertinak and Norman hit three aces and a single double fault in the second set. The Slovakian/Belgian team improved its serve as compared to the first set, delivering 67 percent of the first serves and converting 85 percent
of them into points in the second set. Mertinak and Norman capitalized on one of the two break point opportunities they received in the second set.
Chela and Soares did not get disappointed after losing the second set and stepped up their game in the match tie-break, claiming a couple of mini-breaks to win it 10-7.
The Argentinean/Brazilian pair neither hit an ace nor any double fault in the match tie-break. However, they fired 89 percent of the first serves and managed to win 63 percent of the points on them in the match tie-break.
In comparison, Mertinak and Norman hit 75 percent of the first serves correctly, winning 67 percent of the points on them in the match tie-break.
Chela and Soares will meet Swedish/Romanian pair of Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau in the second round. Lindstedt and Tecau received a bye in the first round as their team is seeded eighth in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
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