Florian Mayer downs Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the first round – French Open 2012
Florian Mayer of Germany did not come across any trouble in ousting Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver, ranked 125th in the world, in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round at the French Open in Paris on Tuesday.
Mayer did not allow the Spaniard to settle down, breaking him in the first and third game to race to a 4-0 lead. Gimeno-Traver restored some pride by winning three in arrow and reducing the deficit to 3-4. However, Mayer did not
allow the Spaniard to come on equal terms, closing it 6-4.
The German banged in two aces and 53 percent of the first deliveries, claiming 14 of the 16 points on them. The 28-year-old lagged behind his opponent in some departments of the game, as he put in just 36 percent of the second
serves and hit eight winners. In comparison, Gimeno-Traver kept his second delivery percentage at 43 and fired 12 winners. The German could not save the only break point he faced but succeeded in converting two of the five of his own in the opener.
In the second set, Mayer and Gimeno-Traver began by holding their serve in the opening two games to level the score at 1-1. The German pressed the accelerator afterwards, as he grabbed five of the following six to win 6-2.
Mayer pounded three aces and did not commit any double fault in the second set. The German improved his first serve percentage, hitting 64 percent of them and capturing 11 of the 14 points with their help. He won all of the seven
net approach points and made just three unforced errors.
The German and Spaniard made a stable start in the third set, as they did not lose their serve in the first four games to even out the score at 2-2. Mayer struck in the fifth and consolidated on it to go up 4-2. The German stuck
again in the ninth game, sealing it 6-3.
Mayer’s first serve percentage dropped to 52 but his conversion rate went up, as he managed to win stunningly 12 of the 13 points on them. The 6ft 3in tall also won 11 of the 28 return points and hit 11 winners. The right-hander
put away all the three break points he came across and converted two of the three he got in the third set.
The German is slated to play Eduardo Schwank of Argentina in the second round.
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