Daniel La Nava battles past Ruben Hidalgo into title match – Quito Challenger 2011
In an all Spaniard battle, fifth seeded Daniel Munoz-De La Nava survived a mid match lapse as he required three sets to do away with fourth seeded compatriot, Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in their semi-final match at the 2011 Quito Challenger
in Ecuador on Saturday, 22nd October.
The pair clashed for two hours and twenty three minutes before the fifth seed secured a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7) win over his higher ranked compatriot. Standing at a two match win each, the pair entered the match on an equal competitive
footing. Two and a half hours later, La Nava was able to edge into a 3-2 head-to-head lead.
Starting the match on a competitive note, the pair exchanged breakpoint opportunities with La Nava going one break up in the lead, registering 3-1 on the scoreboard. Continuing to hold his serves with no breakpoints faced or converted,
La Nava eventually served out the set with a simple 6-4 win, going one up in the set score.
Albeit trailing in the set score, Hidalgo bounced back in the second set as he came out firing from the get go clinching an early 3-1 lead. Maintaining his lead, Hidalgo eventually broke his opponent once more in the eighth game
of the set to clinch a 6-2 win, bringing the set score to even terms.
A set win a piece, forced the match into the deciding third set. The pair kicked into their competitive gear as they engaged into a neck-to-neck run in the third set. Although Hidalgo started off the match with a break, the score
was levelled at five games each when the La Nava finally broke back. A successful hold of serve forced the set into a tiebreaker.
The pair’s tooth and nail battle continued well into the tiebreaker with the score tied for the first fourteen points. Neither player would let up or was forceful enough to break their opponent. It was only on the fifteenth point
that La Nava caught a lucky mini break as he reeled off two straight points to clinch a 9-7 win, ensuring his survival at the event.
La Nava now moves into the final of the event where he will play Argentine Sebastian Decoud for a shot at the title win. Decoud edged past two tiebreakers in his semi-final match against Andre Begemann to move into the title match
here.
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