Gerard Granollers-Pujol through to the final round qualifier of Grand Prix Hassan II
World number 331, Gerard Granollers-Pujol of Spain defeated compatriot Pablo Carreno-Busta, ranked 277th in the world, in three sets 6-0, 3-6, 7-6(1) in the second round of the qualifying draw at the Grand Prix Hassan
II in Casablanca on Sunday. The 22-year-old took 2 hours and 22 minutes to oust his opponent in a tough contest.
Granollers-Pujol was flawless in the opening set, winning six straight games to claim the set 6-0. He delivered 83 per cent of the first serves and converted 60 per cent of them into points in the first set. The Spaniard claimed
all the three break point he received in the set while Carreno-Busta failed to capitalize any of the three break chances he received in the first set.
Carreno-Busta bounced back in the second set, breaking his opponent once to clinch it 6-3. He fired in 77 per cent of the first serves in the second set, winning 63 per cent of the points on them. In comparison, Granollers-Pujol
kept his first serve percentage at impressive 96 per cent and converted 52 per cent of his first serves into points.
In the deciding set, Granollers-Pujol and Carreno-Busta exchanged couple of breaks in the first 12 games, levelling the score at 6-6 to take the set to a tie-break. Just Like the opening set, Granollers-Pujol was almost flawless
in the final set tie-break racing to a 6-0 lead. Carreno-Busta managed to save first of the six match points. However, his opponent capitalized on the second match point, winning the tie-break 7-1.
Granollers-Pujol hit three aces and 65 per cent of the first serves in the final set. He won 67 per cent of the points on his first serve. While, Carreno-Busta fired in 65 per cent of the first serves, converting 54 per cent of
them into points in the third set. Both players saved three of the five break points they received in the deciding set.
The Spaniard will play world number 121 Yuri Schukin of Kazakhstan or Roberto Bautista-Agut of Spain in the next round.
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