Gianluca Naso scuffles past James Duckworth into second round – BVA Open 2011 CH
Australian, James Duckworth, locked horns with the Italian, Gianluca Naso, in the second round of the BVA Open Challenger tournament, contested in Brazil, on Thursday October 27th. Their first meeting at the clay court
ended up in the straight sets triumph for the 24-year-old Italian. The match was played for an hour and forty-four minutes and finished with a score of 7-6(2), 6-3.
Both players were in terrific form and eager to make it to the advance round of this tournament. Italian had a slight advantage of superior ranking but no one could put their finger on the winner for sure.
The most exciting part of the match was the power play from both players that included twelve lightning quick serves; six apiece for each player. Italian did stumble over with his accuracy at five different occasions when he committed
double-faults but his opponent was unable to capitalize on those unforced errors.
Both players exchanged breaks in the fourth and fifth game and the hostile battle between the two continued till the twelfth game when the score was six games apiece. Naso completely capitalized on his first serves and pocketed
88% points from them whilst his opponent only managed to secure 74% on his first serve.
The Australian teenager couldn’t hold on to the pressure and committed a double-fault on his second serve the tie-breaker when the score was 5-2 in favour of Naso. Italian grabbed the opportunity with both hands and won the next
point to finish it off.
The total points played in the first set were 82 and with a minute difference of just four points, Italian clinched the set that placed immense pressure on his opponent.
Italian improved his serves and committed just a single double fault in the second set. He registered an enthralling first serve success rate of 93%. Naso saved both breakpoints that were allotted to his opponent and managed to
steal one on his fifth attempt to take a lead of two games; that left no chance for the Australian to make a comeback as he was already struggling hard to cope with the one game lead.
Naso’s second serve returns were terrific and secured 70% points from them. Trailing one set down and all factors running against Duckworth, it was not easy for him to extend the match into the third set to brighten his chances
for a berth in the third round draws.
24-year-old Italian secured thirty-six points in the second set whilst his competitor only managed to win twenty-five. The overall performance from the Italian was impressive but double-faults needs to be lowered to make impact
in the advanced rounds.
Gianluca Naso’s third round match will be played against the Argentine, Eduardo Schwank.
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