David Nalbandian dumps Janko Tipsarevic in the third round – BNP Paribas Open 2012
World number 74, David Nalbandian of Argentina, rallied past 10th seed Janko Tipsarevic in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to get through to the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, USA, on Tuesday.
Nalbandian captured an early lead in the first set, breaking the Serbian in the second game and holding his serve to build a 3-0 lead. The Argentinean maintained the advantage until the end and served out of the set at 5-3.
The 30-year-old hit two aces and 52 percent of the first deliveries. Nalbandian’s conversion rate was excellent, as he won 11 of the 13 first and nine of the 12 second delivery points. The Argentinean did not come across any break
threat and capitalised on the one opportunity he got in the opener.
The second set followed the same pattern as the first one but it went in Tipsarevic’s favour. The Serbian clinched the opening three games to race to a 3-0 lead. The right-hander did not allow Nalbandian to break back throughout
the set, winning it 6-3.
Both players gave a below average performance. None of the two players delivered any ace. However, the Argentinean’s efforts were worse of the two, as he committed a couple of double faults compared to one by Tipsarevic. Nalbandian
put in just 46 percent of the first serves, converting nine of the 13 of them into points. In comparison, the Serbian delivered 62 percent and grabbed 15 of the 18 points on them.
In contrast to the first two sets, the decider went with the serve until the eighth game, when Nalbandian made a breakthrough to move ahead 5-3. The Argentinean captured the next game without dropping a single point, sealing the
set 6-3.
Tipsarevic fired more aces and a higher percentage of first serve. Nalbandian maintained a better conversion rate, winning 11 of the 13 points on the first deliveries compared in response to nine of the 15 by his opponent. The
Argentinean played an attacking return game, securing six of the 15 points on the first replies. Nalbandian grabbed victory after an hour and 55 minutes.
Nalbandian has never won a crown in Indian Wells. The Argentinean gave his best performance in 2008, when he lost to Mardy Fish in the last eight.
The Cordoba, Argentina, resident will face off sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the next match. Tsonga ousted Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic in three sets 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-2 in the third round.
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