Santiago Giraldo overthrows Jurgen Melzer in 1st round – Mercedes Cup 2011
Tuesday, 12th July saw another upset for the Mercedes tour 2011 when world No.12 Jurgen Melzer from Austria was overthrown by 23-year-old Columbian Santiago Giraldo in their first round match at TC Weissenhof Court in
Stuttgart, Germany. The right handed World No.61 gave a shocker to all and sundry as he beat the former World No.8 in straight sets.
Previously both players had faced each other on hard courts, twice. Melzer had won on both occasions winning at Cincinnati and Paris. However, come clay court, the young Columbian had his first ever, breath taking win against the
former World No. 8.
The match started off as the Austrian served for the first set as the 30 year old World No.12 served the opening game of the match. Both players seemingly were in good form as they equalled the scores on their respective serves
until the seventh game of the first set. Winning a breakpoint on Melzer’s serve, Giraldo led the set 4-3. Melzer levelled the scores by snatching back the break in the 8thgame. However, it was of not much use as the young 23-year-old dominated in
the next two games and took away the set 6-4. Giraldo won 29 points in the first set including 17 service winners and 12 returners.
The second set started with Melzer opening serve. Although he successfully held his serve, a frustrated Austrian surrendered the next two games giving the Colombian a 3-1 lead. As the next game started, the egoistic Austrian had
to prove his top position to his opponent. Winning the next three games including a breakpoint, the 30 year old withheld his position to 3-4 after game 17.
Giraldo and Melzer won the next two games on their respective serves, making the match more interesting at 5-5. The stunned Austrian served with fury but could not really control his shots as the smart young Columbian took away
a breakpoint and won the match 6-4, 7-5.
The devastation put upon the Austrian world No. 12 was no wonder an epic display of professionalism by the young tennis star. Winning the match, Giraldo made a comfortable spot in the next round to face the Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.
Tags: