Ernests Gulbis overcomes Igor Andreev in the final qualifier – Western & Southern Open 2011
World number 48 Ernests Gulbis of Latvia survived the second set scare to rally past world number 81 Igor Andreev of Russia in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the final round of the qualifying draw at the Western and Southern Open
in Cincinnati on Sunday. The Latvian took one hour and 52 minutes to oust his opponent in a tough encounter.
Gulbis broke the Russian in the sixth game of the opening set and consolidated on it to take a 5-2 lead. The Latvian broke Andreev again in the eighth game, grabbing the set 6-2.
The Jurmala resident served exceptionally well, firing 90 percent of the first serves and six aces in the first set. Gulbis converted fifteen of the eighteen first serves into points. On the other hand, Andreev served poorly as
he was unable to hit any ace, committing a couple of double faults and just 40 percent of the first serves in the opening set. The Russian was behind in the return performance as he won just 17 percent of the first return points compared to 25 percent by his
opponent in the first set.
Gulbis started the second set strongly, breaking Andreev in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. However, he was broken back immediately and lost the sixth game to level the score at 3-3. The Latvian and Andreev held their serve
in the next two games to tie the score at 4-4. Gulbis broke again in the ninth game and this time he consolidated on the break of serve to capture the set 6-4.
Andreev made the difference by improving his serve, hitting 56 percent of the first serves and sealing fourteen of the twenty points on them in the second set. The Russian won both break points he received on Gulbis’ serve and
saved five of the six break points he faced on his own serve in the second set.
Gulbis regained the lost momentum in the third set as he broke Andreev in the fourth game and won his next service game to grab a 4-1 lead. The Latvian did not drop his serve and sustained the lead throughout the set, serving it
out at 5-3.
The sixth seed converted nineteen of the 25 first serves and three of the seven second serves into points in the final set. The Latvian clinched only one of the eight first return points but converted the one break point he received
in the deciding set.
Gulbis will face world number 36 Ivan Dodig of Croatia in the first round of the main draw.
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