Filippo Volandri stuns Luca Vanni in straight sets in 1st round – Todi Challenger 2011
The 2011 Internazionali di Tennis dell'Umbria, Italy, An ATP Challenger tour, reignited on Tuesday, 13th September, as Filippo Volandri made his move on compatriot Luca Vanni in the first round match. Ending the match
in an hour and 21 minutes, Volandri out ran the fellow country man 6-4, 6-2 and made his way into the second round.
Comparatively, the 26-year-old, Vanni had a better chance of winning the match; however, “old dog” 30-year-old Volandri ousted his compatriot using his experience as a major weapon in his arsenal.
The match fired up as the two walked into the classic clay court and took their positions. With Vanni winning the toss, stood to serve for the starter. Scoring first, the 26-year-old took out the initial game, however, was followed
up by the 30-year-old to level the score, 1-1.
Equalling up again at 2-2, 3-3 and then on 4-4, Vanni stood to serve next, game 9, hoping to cut ahead of his rival. However, the tables turned as Volandri jumped ahead breaking the 26-year-old in game 9 and taking away the set
winning game 10.
With a close win in the first set, the former world No.25 did what a true player does. Breaking early, Volandri stood to serve game 2 with a game already in his bag, 1-0. What the Italian did next was magnificent. Winning the next
4 games straight including 2 more breakpoint wins in game 3 and 5, he mustered a 5-0 lead in no time.
Vanni did cut back 2 set as he broke his senior fellow countryman and took out the following game, 2-5, however, Volandri was left win just 1 game. Smashing a bullet forehand cross-court shot, the 30-year-old bashed away the second
set as well winning 6-2 and the match 6-4, 6-2.
Although the 26-year-old Italian had a better percentage of 1st serves in the first set, he could not gain as much points out of that. On the other hand, the well experienced former world number 25 was bang on target.
Not only in the 1st serve but also in the 2nd serve stats, Volandri had a greater percentage than his compatriot.
Adding to his advantage, Volandri had a greater number of breakpoints which was the major reason the 30-year-old took the match away so easily. However, overall, Vanni bagged 54 points against the successors 67 that included 40
service points and 27 return points.
Volandri succeeds to round 2 of the Todi Challenger 2011 and will clash with Gerard Granollers for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Tags: