Dustin Brown eliminated as Rajeev Ram enters semi-final – Eckental Challenger 2011
The quarterfinals of the 2011 Eckental Challenger continued on November 4, 2011 with Rajeev Ram (USA) taking on Dustin Brown (Germany). Ram won the match 7-5, 6-3.
Ram, ranked at 237th spot in the world, was a heavier opponent in the game as he has won 135 matches in the ATP circuit and lost 128. On the other hand, Brown, ranked at the 146th spot, has won 77 games
and lost 59.
Brown has won three Challenger titles in his career, where his last win came at the 2010 Lambertz Open in Germany. Ram has not won any Challenger Series title but his higher win/loss ratio than Brown was what helped the American
win the match.
Although Dustin Brown was born in Jamaica but he has been a German tennis player and wanted to win another Challenger title in Germany. He did considerably well against Ram in the quarterfinal match.
Ram scored seven aces with five double faults. He had a 49% first serve winning percentage, slightly lower than the 51% first serve winning percentage maintained by Brown. Interestingly, Ram won fewer points on his first
serve as compared to Brown in the first set.
He did, however, saved both of his breakpoints, which prevented Brown to close in to the lead. Brown, on the other hand, could win only two breakpoints from the three he faced.
Both players conceded double faults in the first set. Ram had five double faults while Ram had four. These double faults were the result of the two players starting their offensive play, as they were eager to get a lead in
the first set.
Ram scored lesser points on his first serve, but he still won the first set because of his steady pace in winning games during the set. Brown was closing in for his win when he won five games. Brown could win the set but
Ram, with his success in service games, was able to win the first set 7-5.
When the second set began, Ram could not score any ace for he wanted to maintain his lead and not give his opponents any points on errors. Brown delivered two aces with a double fault once in the second set. He was not able
to initiate his counter attack because Ram was again proving to be a good player with his service games.
Both players had a 62% first serve winning ratio. Ram won 92% points on first serve while Brown could win 77% points.
On the second serve, Ram was flawless, as he won all of his points. Brown, however, won only 38% points on his second serve, a factor that did not give him enough momentum in gaining a convincing lead and lagged behind Ram.
Ram played all his service games with perfection and did not let any of his serves broken by Brown. Ram won the second set 6-3 and entered the semi finals of the 2011 Eckental Challenger.
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