Frederico Gil rallies past Marsel Ilhan into the second round – SkiStar Swedish Open 2012
Portuguese player, Frederico Gil, endured the beating in the second set to down the world number 163, Marsel Ilhan of Turkey, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the opening round at the SkiStar Swedish Open in Bastad, Sweden on Tuesday. It took
him one hour and 48 minutes to throw his Turkish opponent out of the competition.
Gil and Ilhan made a stable start, holding their serve in the first three games and squaring off the score at 3-3. The Portuguese contender struck in the seventh and capitalised on it to claim it 6-4.
The 5ft 10in tall banged in one ace and 69 percent of the first serves on target, pocketing 16 of the 22 points on them in the first set. Gil failed to handle Ilhan’s strong serves, losing 13 of the 20 first and six of the eight
second delivery points. However, he was the better player when it mattered most, as he saved all the three break points he faced and converted one of the five he received.
Ilhan came roaring in the second set, as she grabbed opening three games to attain a 3-0 lead. Gil managed to hold his serve in the fourth and reduce the deficit to 1-3 but he lost three more consecutively afterwards to go down
1-6.
The Turkish contestant won most of the points on his powerful deliveries, converting 10 of the 13 first and eight of the 11 second serve points. The Istanbul, Turkey resident did not provide any break chance to the Portuguese and
availed two of the five he created in the second set.
Ilhan and Gil won their serve in the first five games of the decider to take the score to 3-2 in the latter’s favour. Gil hit a blow to the Turk player in the sixth and consolidated on it to go up 5-2. The Portuguese did not allow
Ilhan to stage a comeback and closed it 6-3.
Gil did not hit any ace and committed one double fault, putting in 65 percent of the first serves and securing 13 of the 20 points on them.
The Portuguese contender will take on Rogerio Dutra Silva or Grigor Dimitrov in the round of 16.
Tags: