Dustin Brown struggles free from Gregoire Burquier’s shackles – San Marino CEPU Open 2011 CH
German Dustin Brown managed to prevail over his opponent, France’s Gregoire Burquier in a three set thriller in their opening round match on Tuesday at the San Marino CEPU Open 2011. Effortlessly winning the
first set 6-2, Brown fell 3-6 to a reinvigorated Burquier in the second set but quickly recovered from the debacle in the next set, scoring 6-3 to decisively seal the match in his account. Brown’s win guarantees him a berth in the second round of
the premier ATP Challenger tournament.
Brown began his season this year on a high note, registering his career best No. 89 position in early January. But progress has since then stalled for the player who currently resides in the 122nd position.
Brown’s win loss mark stands at a dismal 2-10 on the ATP tour, proving that despite his attendance on the professional circuit he’s failed to capitalise on these performances. On the Challenger circuit, the German’s best performances have been two semi final
outings at Johannesburg and Rome-2.
Burquier’s recent spell of good luck, which had propelled him to his current career best 173rd ranking, was brought to a grinding halt by Brown. The Frenchman has recently won the France F12
Futures title in early July and then finished runner up to Karol Beck at the ATP Challenger Segovia, Spain in August. Burquier has been intelligently using the Futures to build up his skill and confidence throughout the year and the technique had been paying
off brilliantly for the player till now.
This one hour and twenty seven minutes long match between the two players’ was their first outing against each other.
Brown set the tone for the match at the very onset of the game by breaking his opponent’s serve in the first game, limiting Burquier to just 15 points in that game. Brown further cemented his lead by again registering
a seething break of serve in the third game of the set. The fast paced set finished at 6-2 in Brown’s account effortlessly.
A renewed Burquier returned to the courts to play the opening game of the second set and maintained a dominating lead throughout. The prosaic set progressed without any drama, except for the lone breakpoint registered
by Burquier in the set’s second last game, before closing squarely in the Frenchman’s favour.
Brown however showed exceptional stamina in making a confident comeback in the third set of the match. Serving at 60%, Brown won 15 points off his 18 serves and registered a breakpoint early on in the set. On the contrary,
a trailing Burquier couldn’t manage to set up even a single breakpoint opportunity against his opponent.
Brown will now face his fiercest completion yet in the competition in the second round match against Lukas Rosol, seeded at No.2 in the main draws of the San Marino Open. Rosol had earlier Tuesday made short work of fellow
Czech Ivo Minar in their first round match.
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