Dudi Sela bounces over Andreas Beck in the opening round – PBZ Zagreb Indoors 2012: Tennis Special
Israeli star, Dudi Sela, made an epic comeback after a set down against the German challenger, Andreas Beck, at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors 2012 on Wednesday. He formulated a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the 25-year-old German to advance into the second round at
this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event taking place in Zagreb, Croatia.
Ranked 73rd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Sela put up solid display of tennis at the Dom Sportova and earned a comeback victory in an hour 46 minutes long duel. Battling each other for the first time, the Israeli not only
moved a step closer to bag $416,000 prize money but also secured a place in the round of 16.
The left-handed German thundered into the opening set and drew the first blood in the second game. Regardless of losing his edge in the seventh game, Beck broke the Israeli’s serve again in the very next game and eventually clinched the opener with a 6-3
score line.
The Kiryat Shmonna-born Sela turned the tables around in the following set. He quickly swiped in entire serves without facing any breakpoint and cashed in the only break opportunity in the sixth game to pocket the equaliser by winning six games to three.
26-year-old kept momentum flowing into the final set and broke Beck’s serve in the opening game to take the initial lead. Sela then fended off all five breakpoints he encountered to keep his entire serves and capitalised on another break chance in the seventh
game, ultimately bagging the decider with a 6-2 score line.
Overall, the Israeli spilled several unforced errors and four double faults. However, he manipulated a higher first serve share of 62 percent as compared to the German’s 56 percent. Sela also saved five out of seven breakpoints he faced and converted four
out of seven break chances to his advantage.
The Israeli will next face the eighth seeded local star, Ivo Karlovic, who dumped Blaz Kavcic in straight sets to reach this spot.
In a late night match, Austrian top Jurgen Melzer displayed tremendous skills to upset the fifth seed, Andreas Seppi, in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals.
"I need to play matches before Davis Cup, to gain confidence," said Melzer. "In the first two qualification rounds, I was still jet-lagged having come from Australia on Wednesday night. It was a very good decision to come here to play, as I'd only be training
back in Vienna. I am very happy with the way I am playing at the moment, not quite as I was in 2010, but I don't think you should compare."
The Austrian qualifier broke Seppi’s serve four times to earn a 6-2, 6-3 score line in 68 minutes. He smacked nine aces and clobbered a better first serve share of 76 percent as compared to the Italian’s 66 percent. Melzer also dusted away five out of six
breakpoints he faced and capitalised on four out of seven break opportunities.
Sela needs to practice harder and perk up his defensive skills in order to overpower veteran players. He should also improve his breakpoint conversion skills and commit fewer errors.
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