Filippo Volandri advances to main draw of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
4th seeded Italian Filippo Volandri destroyed Australian Peter Luczak with a breadstick in the qualifiers on Sunday. He registered a 6-4, 6-1 win over the 31-year-old Australian to advance into the main draw at 2011 Monte Carlo Rolex Masters.
Ranked 76th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Volandri edged over the Australian in straight sets in 80 minutes. They last faced each other in the 2010 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event at Rome where the Italian downed Luczak in straight sets to take a lead in their head-to-head series by 1-0.
The 29-year-old Italian is in good shape and has won seven out of his last ten matches. He recently reached the final at Barletta Challenger where he lost to Slovene Aljaz Bedene in straight sets. However, he hasn’t shown much progress in the tournaments on tour he entered as he was ousted in early rounds from all of them.
Volandri outclassed the Australian in the opening set by displaying his fascinating skills from his arsenal. He had a much higher first serve share of 76 percent as compared to Luczak’s 53 percent and registered an acceptable 59 percent win on it. The Italian then saved five out of six breakpoints he faced through his amazing defensive skills and converted two out of four breakpoint opportunities to his advantage to clinch the set with a 6-4 win.
The Italian improved his winning ways in the final set and held his opening serve spectacularly. He then held his entire serves and saved the only breakpoint he conceded. Volandri earned an exceptional 68 percent win on his higher first serve share and by breaking the Australian’s serve twice he won the set with a convincing 6-1 score line.
He will next face 15th seeded Croat Marin Cilic, and may upset him should he continue with the passion and carry his momentum into the first round.
Another seed made his way to the main draw at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Monaco by earning a breadstick. 8th seeded Portuguese Frederico Gil triumphed over Italian Flavio Cipolla in straight sets in one hour and 18 minutes.
Gil completely outshined the 27-year-old Italian in every department of tennis in the match. He had an acceptable first serve share of 63 percent as compared to slightly lower of the Italian’s 60 percent but he earned an impressive 69 percent win on it. The Portuguese also saved the only breakpoint he came across and converted four out of eight breakpoint opportunities to his advantage to seal the match with a plausible 6-1, 6-3 score line.
He will next face Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.
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