Feliciano Lopez battles past Juan Carlos Ferrero into second round – Western & Southern Open 2011
World number 25 Feliciano Lopez of Spain bounced back after dropping the first set to beat former world number 1, compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round at the Western and Southern Open in
Cincinnati, Ohio on Monday. The Spaniard took one hour and 54 minutes to undo his opponent in a tough clash.
Ferrero took the lead straightaway as he broke his countryman in the opening game of the first set and won his next service game to grab a 2-0 lead. The Spaniard maintained his lead throughout the set as he did not allow Lopez
to break back, claiming the set 6-4.
The Villena resident won more points on his second serve compared to the first serve, claiming ten of the sixteen points on the first serve and twelve of the fifteen points on the second serve in the first set. On the other hand,
Lopez served better, delivering four aces and winning thirteen of the eighteen first service points. However, the Spaniard was unable to win points on crucial moments as he failed to save one of the two breaks points he faced and could not convert both break
points he received on Ferrero’s serve in the opening set.
Lopez came back as he broke his compatriot in the fourth game of the second set and held his serve in the following game, blazing forward to a 4-1 lead. The Spaniard capitalised on the single break of serve to capture the set 6-3.
The left-handed served brilliantly, hitting an incredible six aces and clinching a whopping fourteen of the sixteen first service points in the second set. Lopez dominated in all departments of the game as he converted eight of
the eighteen first returns into points. The Spaniard won seven of the thirteen second service points and capitalised on one of the four break point opportunities he created on his opponent’s serve in the second set.
With winning momentum on his side, Lopez took an early lead in the final set. The Spaniard broke Ferrero in the third game and consolidated on it to build a 3-1 lead. The 29-year-old maintained his lead till the end of the set,
serving it out at 5-4.
The six feet and two inches tall continued with his exceptional service performance as he bombarded nine aces and clinched sixteen of the eighteen first service points in the final set.
Lopez will face world number 47 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the second round.
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