Donald Young crashes to Alejandro Falla in the opening round – Heineken Open 2012
Seventh seed Donald Young exited from the opening round at the Heineken Open 2012 by the Colombian, Alejandro Falla, on Monday. He suffered a 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 shock at the hands of the 28-year-old at this ATP (Association of Tennis
Professionals) World Tour 250 series event taking place on the hard courts in Auckland, New Zealand.
World number 40, Young, made quick in-roads and bagged the opener but lost his concentration in the later parts of the match, eventually suffering a three setter defeat in almost two hours. He won their only other meeting at the
2008 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis but after this encounter, the American levelled the head-to-head series by 1-1 against Falla.
Young made his presence felt in the start of the match as he went 4-0 up with two breaks of serve. Despite of losing his serve in the fifth and ninth game, he converted his third break opportunity to his advantage in the tenth
game and clinched the opener with a 6-4 score line.
Ranked 80th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Falla got back in action in the second set. He drew the first blood in the third game and eventually went 3-1 up. Later, the Colombian held his remaining
serves and earned another break of serve in the last game to seal the equaliser at 6-3.
The left-handed American carried his losing ways in the final set. He levelled the scores till 3-3 but lost his serve in the eighth game, eventually suffering a 3-6 loss. Young sought four break opportunities but squandered all
of them to remain at a disadvantage.
Overall, the higher ranked American clobbered almost an equal first serve share of 62 percent and clinched impressive 37 out of 53 points on it. He cashed three out of nine break chances but dusted away six out of eleven breakpoints
he encountered.
The Bogota native, Falla advanced into the second round where he will face the winner of the match between Spaniard Albert Montanes and Italian Potito Starace.
Sixth seeded Brazilian, Thomaz Bellucci, faced a brighter fate as he edged past Portuguese Rui Machado in straight sets to reach the round of 16. The Brazilian warded off the only breakpoint he faced and capitalised on one out
of six break chances.
Next up for the Brazilian is the winner of the match between German Olivier Rochus and a qualifier who is yet to be decided.
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