David Ferrer prevails over Radek Stepanek in the second round – Mutua Madrid Open 2012
One of the home favourites, David Ferrer, faced tough resistance in the early part of the match but succeeded in overcoming Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic in straight sets 7-6(4), 6-2 in the second round at the Mutua Madrid Open in Spain on Wednesday.
Ferrer required just an hour and 26 minutes to post the win over his Czech rival.
The Spaniard and Stepanek held their serve throughout the first set, equalising the score at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. Both players went neck to neck in the first eight points and leveled it at 4-4. Afterwards, Ferrer grabbed three successively to close it 7-6(4).
The fifth seed, Ferrer, pounded three aces and 61 percent of the first serves, winning 20 of the 25 points on them in the opener. The Spaniard was not up to the mark on the replies to Stepanek’s deliveries, as he captured just five of the 23 first and five of the 13 second return points.
In the second set, Ferrer gained advantage from the beginning, snatching first three games to go up 3-0. The Spaniard did not allow Stepanek to come back and struck once more in the eighth game to clinch it 6-2.
Ferrer neither hit an ace nor made any double fault in the second set, keeping his first serve percentage at 67 and claiming amazingly 11 of the 12 points on them. The Spaniard also impressed on the second deliveries and returns, as he pocketed five of the six and four of the seven points on them respectively. The right-hander did not allow Stepanek to create any break opportunity and utilised two of the three he got.
Talking to the reporters during the post match press conference, Ferrer said, "I won the first set by a small margin. In the second one I was able to play more calmly and better and I've left with good feelings in the end."
The Spaniard is slated to play 11th seed, Nicolas Almagro, in the round of 16. Almagro ousted compatriot, Marcel Granollers, in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(3) in the previous match.
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