Denis Kudla knocks out Grigor Dimitrov to reach quarterfinals – Hall of Fame Championships 2011
World number 394 Denis Kudla of USA reached the quarterfinals of an ATP World Tour event for the first time in his career as he upset second seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 in the second round at the
Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport on Wednesday. The American took just an hour and two minutes to oust his opponent.
Kudla took control of the match from its beginning as he broke the Bulgarian in the second game of the first set and held his serve in the next game, blazing forward to a 3-0 lead. Dimitrov succeeded in holding his serve in the
fourth game to open his account and reduce the deficit to 1-3. It was all Kudla show after that as the American grabbed three consecutive games, breaking the Bulgarian in the sixth game to win the set 6-1.
The American won the set easily despite having a poor first serve percentage in the opening set, delivering a meagre 40 percent of the first serves. However, Kudla had an incredible conversion rate as he converted 90 percent of
the first serves into points in the first set. The 18-year-old destroyed Dimitrov with his attacking return of serve, converting 46 percent of the first returns into points in the opening set. The American saved the only break point opportunity he faced and
capitalised on two of the four break point opportunities he created on Dimitrov’s serve in the first set.
Kudla carried the winning momentum into the second set, breaking Dimitrov in the opening game and holding his serve in the next game to take a 2-0 lead. Dimitrov was not in a mood to go down easily as he broke back in the eighth
game to square off the score at 4-4. However, the Bulgarian was broken again in the very next game and this time he did not get any chance to break back, losing the set 4-6.
The American delivered 54 percent of the first serves and two aces in the second set. Kudla won both break points he received on his opponent’s serve and succeeded in saving five of the six break points on his own serve in the
second set.
This is the five feet and eleven inches tall’s first tour level win in this season. Last month, the American failed to qualify for the main draw after he lost to Donald Young in straight sets 3-6, 1-6 in the final qualifier at
the AEGON International.
The teenager is drawn to take on compatriot Michael Yani in the quarterfinals.
Tags: