Filippo Volandri defeats Gerard Granollers in round 2 – Todi Challenger 2011
Expected to be a tougher match than it was, Gerard Granollers, Spanish, stumbled down in straight sets against the 2nd seed, Filippo Volandri, in the 2nd round match of the Todi Challenger 2011 on Wednesday,
14th September. Playing at the Umbria Tennis Centre, the two clashed out for the first time head on before the Italian dismantled his rival in an hour and 16 minutes and ran away 6-2, 6-3.
Volandri, 30 years old, has been struggling as he lost 6 out of the last 10 matches. However, he recovered his form as he opened up winning the first round clay fixture earlier in the event. With a toped up form, the Italian led
to his second win of the ATP Challenger, making his way into the quarter-final round of the 2011 Internazionali di Tennis dell'Umbria.
With the crowd roaring for their home player, Volandri energized with a strong support and opened up the match serving game 1. With an immediate win, the local lad switched the serve to the 22-year-old Spaniard who served out game
2 winning, 1-1. Ranked 92, Volandri went bombing, winning 3 straight games including a breakpoint win in game 4, and took a commanding 4-1 lead in the first set.
The Granollers did cut the lead to 4-2, yet could not maintain or comeback to level up. Serving out game 7 and, with his 2nd breakpoint of the set, game 8 to take away the first set, 6-2 and led the match 1-0.
With a commanding lead in the tie, Volandri continued with serving first in the 2nd set and rolled down the scorecard, 1-0. Levelling the scores, Granollers won the following game, game 2, and stood to return the Italian’s
serve. The two levelled up once again at 2-2 before the Spaniard broke for first time in the game and took the lead, 3-2.
With an instant comeback, the 30-year-old broke back in game 6, and levelled up the scores, once again, following up with a win in game 7, 4-3. With a perfect defence and offence combination, the Italian went storming down on the
22-year-old with heavy forehands and net play. Breaking the Spaniard in game 8, Volandri served out the final game winning the set 6-3, and the match 2-0 with a staggering cross-court winner.
Winning his 2nd round match, seed No.2 sits in the quarter-final of the 2011 Internazionali di Tennis dell'Umbria to play against Stefano Galvani.
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