Daniel Munoz moves into second round as Andreas Haider-Maurer retires – Palermo Challenger 2011
Andreas Haider-Maurer from Austria was up against Daniel Munoz-De La Nava of Spain in first round of ATP Challenger Tournament on October 4th in Palermo, Italy. Unfortunately the match was abandoned in the middle of
the second set because Haider-Maurer had to retire due to gastroenteritis.
He started the match as a favorite but was not comfortable since the beginning. He was limbering across the pitch and was playing the match in pain and distress. He survived for one hour twenty minutes before the situation worsened
and he was not able to continue and had to quit. Nava walked through with a 6-4 win in the first set and was leading 3-0 in the second set before the Austrian retired.
Haider-Maurer is ranked 86 whilst Nava is 159th on the list of world’s tennis rankings. It was suppose to be an easy win for Haider-Maurer but was not fortunate enough to be giving his 100% in the match. Nava was lucky
to have an easy pass in the first round of ATP Challenger and he would now face Adrian Ungur of Romania in the second round.
The match started off in despair as Haider-Maurer was not completely fit. The youngster was agitated at the pitch because he was not able to put up a show of his liking. Haider-Maurer managed to ace four times but his power show
couldn’t take him home. He double faulted on the serves twice in the first set which shows his anguish on his frustration.
These two have faced each other before in the qualifiers of US Open in New York last year. Haider-Maurer was dominant throughout the match apart from the first set. He cruised his way winning that match 4-6, 6-4 and 6-3. Nava had
a fierce power in his serves and scored nine aces compared to just two of Haider-Maurer. Haider-Maurer has improved since then and he proved it yesterday when he scored five aces in his trivial time at the pitch.
The second set only lasted for three games and Nava succeeded to take all three of them. It was clear by that time that Haider-Maurer was in no position to continue and his shaky walk to the sideline was a clear message for all
that he was about to announce his retirement from the match and that’s what he did. Haider-Maurer’s exciting run in the tournament came to a miserable end and Nava was extremely lucky to get a berth in the second round.
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