Daniel Brands bamboozles Steve Darcis in quarter-final run – Erste Bank Open 2011
Daniel Brands, German world No.182, upheld his reputation as the upset as he bewildered Belgian World No.95, Steve Darcis in an amazing 2 sets play, ousting the higher ranked in straight sets. Playing the quarter-final round of
Erste Bank Open 2011, the 24-year-old took just an hour and 11 minutes to finish off 6-3, 6-4 and into the semis stage.
Battling rackets at Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria, Brands came up as the underdog on tour; however, his performance did stun most of the players who were washed away by the 24-year-old. Anyhow, with the two walking down the
court, German won the toss and took his spot to start the fixture.
Brands lit up the match, serving first and winning game 1 to roll down the scoreboard, 1-0. Darcis, then followed to level up the scores, 1-1, and switched the serve. Carrying on with his serve, world No.95 pulled off game 3 of
first set to lead 2-1, however, German world No.182 stayed on the Belgians tail all along, 2-2.
Levelling up again at 3-3, Brands served out game seven, 4-3, and struck. Breaking the higher ranked Belgian rival, German 24-year-old took control of the set and led the set, 5-3. With just one more game left to pocket the set,
brands knocked out the final game, game 9, to win the set, 6-3, and lead the match, 1-0.
Down and struggling in the opening set, Darcis tried his luck in set two, however, was brought straight down. Serving the set opener, Darcis was broken by his lower ranked quarter-final rival early in the set. Dominating throughout
the match, Brands kept a strong offence and served out his first set serve, 2-0.
Struggling to cut back the lead Darcis once again broke down. Breaking for the second time in 3 games, Brands gave a shocker to his higher ranked counterpart and led the set winning 3 straight games, 3-0. Extending to a comfortable
4 games lead next, the 24-year-old bagged another win and switched the serve.
Finally winning his first game of the second set, Darcis opened up his side of the scoreboard 4-1, however, could not break back. Brands forced out another winner leaving behind just one more win to finish off the match, 5-1.
Striking back Darcis served-broke-served next to cut the lead to 4-5, yet could not finish off with any more wins.
With a near breakpoint, German world No.182 saved game 10 winning the set, 6-4, and the match in straight easy sets to walk on to the semi-final round of the ATP World Tour 250 event.
Through into the semis stage, Brands has been performing stunning so far. However, the 24-year-old now falls in the hands of the destructive French top seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Opening up on Saturday, 29th of October,
the two will play the semi-final match at Centre Court.
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