Dudi Sela downs Jarkko Nieminen in the round of 16 – Delray Beach International 2012
World number 75 Dudi Sela made an upset on Thursday, as he scored an easy victory over the world number 43 Jarkko Nieminen in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in the second round at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in
Florida, USA.
Sela and Nieminen could not break each other in the first six games of the opener, levelling the score at 3-3. Serving at 3-3, Nieminen was unable to cope up with the powerful returns of Sela and went down 3-4. The Israel went
on to claim the next two games, capturing the set 6-4.
Sela delivered one ace and the same number of double fault, hitting 58 percent of the first serves. The right-hander had an impressive conversion rate, as he captured 12 of the 14 first and eight of the 10 second delivery points.
The Israeli did not come across any break points and converted one of the four he received in the opener.
After losing the first set, Nieminen made a good start in the second. The Finn grabbed first two games to claim a 2-0 lead. However, Sela was not in a mood to go down today, winning next two games and leveling the score at 2-2.
The Israeli hit a cross court winner to break Nieminen in the ninth game and consolidated on it to bag the set 6-4.
The Finn served poorly, as he didn’t smack a single ace and hit three double faults. The left-hander managed to win just seven of the 18 second serve points. In comparison, Sela continued to impress. He clinched 13 of the 16 first
and seven of the 12 first serve points. Nieminen succeeded in avoiding eight of the 10 break threats he faced but failed to win three of the four chances he got in the second set.
Sela needed just an hour and 25 minutes to come out victorious in the end.
The 5ft 9in tall said, talking to the reporters after the match, "It was difficult conditions because the wind was swirling. It was tough to serve and you had to put your first serves in. I think I served very well and I didn't
give him any presents."
The Israeli also added that the weather conditions in Delray Beach match the one in his home country.
Nieminen’s level dropped drastically from the last match he played. The Finn had given a fine display to upset second seed, Marin Cilic of Croatia, in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the first round.
Sela is slated to play fifth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the quarterfinals. The German, Kohlschreiber, is in good form as he crushed Croatian Ivan Dodig in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 in the previous match.
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