Igor Kunitsyn downs Julien Benneteau in the quarterfinals – AEGON International 2011
Russian Igor Kunitsyn, ranked 71st in the world, cruised past world number 77 Julien Benneteau of France in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of AEGON International at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne on Thursday.
The match lasted for just an hour and fourteen minutes.
Kunitsyn took an early lead as he broke the French in the second game of the first set, holding his next service game to take a 3-0 lead. The Russian did not allow Benneteau to break back and served out the set at 5-3.
Kunitsyn fired three aces and 61 percent of the first deliveries, capturing 73 percent of the points on them in the opening set. On the other hand, Benneteau had a poor first serve percentage, hitting a meagre 43 percent of the
first serves and clinching 89 percent of the points on them. The French bagged 27 percent of the first return points in the first set. Kunitsyn converted just 11 percent of the first returns into points in the opening set. The five feet and eleven inches tall
won the only break point he received and saved both break points he faced in the first set.
Carrying the winning momentum into the second set, Kunitsyn dropped just two games, breaking the French in the first and seventh game to win the set 6-2.
The Russian kept his first serve percentage at 60 percent, bagging a whopping 83 percent of the points on them in the second set. In comparison, Benneteau managed to hit just 57 percent of the first serves and sealed 50 percent
of the points on them. The right-handed was able to win a meagre 17 percent of the first return points in the second set. While, Kunitsyn made the difference with his aggressive returns, winning an amazing 50 percent of the first return points in the second
set. The 29-year-old capitalised on two of the four break point opportunities he created on Benneteau’s serve and did not face any break point on his own serve in the second set.
The Russian is appearing at the AEGON International for the fifth time. Kunitsyn failed in qualifying for the main draw last year, losing to Kei Nishikori of Japan in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 3-6 in the final qualifier. The right-handed
was defeated by Alex Bogdanovic of Great Britain in straight sets 4-6, 3-6 in the second round of the qualifying draw in 2008. The Russian could not clear the first hurdle in his maiden appearance here, getting overpowered by Gilles Simon of France in straight
sets 4-6, 3-6 in the opening round in 2006.
Kunitsyn is drawn to meet world number 51 Andreas Seppi of Italy in the semi-finals. The Italian ousted world number 89 Olivier Rochus of Belgium in three sets 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
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