Flavio Cipolla tumbles over Benoit Paire to reach final four – Grand Prix Hassan II 2012
Italian veteran, Flavio Cipolla, eased past the French rising star, Benoit Paire in straight sets at the Grand Prix Hassan II 2012 on Friday. He clobbered a 6-3, 6-4 victory against the world number 102 to book a spot in the final four at this ATP (Association
of Tennis Professionals) clay court event taking place in Casablanca, Morocco.
Cipolla took down the 22-year-old through exceptional skills and agility in one hour and 33 minutes. He was broken down twice but capitalised on five out of nine break opportunities to steal the show in his second encounter with the French. As a result,
the Italian not only avenged his loss at the Australian Open last circuit but also levelled the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series by 1-1 against Paire.
The 28-year-old made a strong start at the Complexe Al Amal and after drawing the first blow in the third game, he took a 3-1 lead. Regardless of levelling the scores at 3-3, Cipolla unleashed his true form and bagged the opener by winning six games to three.
Ranked 85th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Cipolla lost his way in the follow-up set and suffered the first blow in the in the fifth game to trail at 2-3. However, he quickly recovered in the very next game and equalised
the scores at 3-3. He eventually pulled out the victory with a 6-4 score line after cashing in another break chance in the last game.
All in all, Cipolla jolted down an impressive first serve share of 76 per cent as compared to his rival’s 41 per cent and clicked 38 out of 55 points on it. He also magnificently warded off 10 out of 12 breakpoints he faced and capitalised on five out of
nine break chances.
Next challenge for Cipolla is the third seed, Pablo Andujar, who battled past his qualifying compatriot, Sergio Gutierrez-Ferrol, in a three set thriller to set-up this battle.
The world number 58, who was coming off from crushing Potito Starace earlier that day, displayed exceptional skills to outmuscle his fellow citizen in one hour and 33 minutes. He lost his track in the second set and suffered a breadstick. However, Andujar
re-gathered his strength in the final set and sealed the decider with a single break of serve.
Overall, the 26-year-old lost his serve four times but capitalised on four out of six break chances to manipulate a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 score line.
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