Ilia Bozoljac, Jan Hernych win first round matches – Eckental Challenger 2011
The 2011 Eckental Challenger saw first round matches in the men’s singles division contested on November 1, 2011. Ilia Bozoljac (Serbia) won his match against Andre Begemann (Germany).
The 229th ranked German was eyeing a win to enter the next round of the tournament on home soil, but he could not qualify as the 216th Serbian proved to be a tough opponent. Bozoljac won the match 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Bozoljac lost the first set 6-2 as he conceded six double faults while his opponent conceded none. The Serbian also had a lower first serve winning ratio with 48% as compared to the 53% secured by his German opponent. In the second set, both players served nearly equal aces as Bozoljac delivered seven and Begemann scored points with eight.
The second set went into a tiebreaker as both players wanted to take a lead. The Serbian wanted to stay in the match while the German was playing for the win. The 26-year old Bozoljac won the second set 7-6(4).
In the third set, the Serbian maintained his lead with nine aces and saving both of his breakpoints. Begemann did score only three aces in the third set but he had a 77% first serve winning ratio, which was ten percent higher than the Serbian.
The deciding factor in the third set came when Bozoljac saved both of his breakpoints, securing a lead in the set. The German could only win three matches in the third set as the Serbian cruised to a win and entered into the next round of the tournament.
Another match played in the day was between Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) and Jan Hernych (Czech Republic). The 32-year old Hernych won the match 7-5, 6-1. The Czech scored all four of his breakpoints in the match while Struff could only save five breakpoints from his eight.
In the first set, Hernych scored three aces and conceded a double fault. Although Struff did not concede any double fault, he could not score many points to take the set into a tiebreaker. Hernych won the first set 7-5.
In the second set, the Czech did not score any ace though he was successful in saving all four of his breakpoints. The German had a higher first serve winning ratio with 53% while Hernych had a 46% winning rate; however, it was the Czech, who played a near flawless second set, winning it 6-1.
Struff could have won the second set, as he did play well in the first set, but the German was unable to maintain proper momentum in the match. He could win only one game in the second set as Hernych secured a breadstick win to seal his straight sets victory and entered the next round of the tournament.
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