Feliciano Lopez ousts Robin Haase in opening round – US Open 2012
Seeded 30th in the tournament, Feliciano Lopez from Spain, stomped over the Dutch number one, Robin Haase, in straight sets at the US Open 2012 on Monday. He recorded a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 victory against the Dutch veteran to charge into the second
round at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York City.
The left-hander from Spain displayed brilliant skills to outrun Haase in their second encounter. The players last fought each other at the Bet-At-Home Open in Kitzbuhel and after pulling out the victory in one hour and 48 minutes, Lopez avenged his defeat
and levelled the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head Series against the Dutch. As a result the Spaniard comfortably advanced into the round of 64 at this final Grand Slam event of the season which is held from 27th August
to 9th September.
Lopez assertively entered this major hard court event. He drew the first blood in the fourth game and leaped to a 4-1 lead. The Spaniard held his remaining serves with poise and eventually sealed the opener with a 6-3 success.
Ranked 31st in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Lopez kept momentum rolling in the following set. He ruled his respective serves until he got the coveted break in the 11th game. The Spaniard held his serve once again
and subsequently clinched the set with a 7-5 score line.
In the third set, the Spanish veteran’s skills were fully polished. After the Dutch held his serve in the opening game, Lopez wiped out the proceeding five games and took a 5-1 lead. He then held his serve once again and clicked the set with a 6-2 win.
The 30-year-old smashed 17 aces and finished the match with 99 points. He manifested an equal first serve share of 54 per cent but acceptably marked 46 out of 85 points on it. The Spaniard brushed off the lone breakpoint he faced and cashed in four out of
12 break opportunities to pocket the match.
Lopez will next face the winner of the match between his compatriot, Pablo Andujar, and the Brazilian star, Thomaz Bellucci.
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