Ivan Dodig cripples Daniel Brands to enter main draw – Valencia Open 2012
Qualifying eight seed, Ivan Dodig from Croatia, got the better of the German challenger, Daniel Brands, with a breadstick at the qualifying competition of Valencia Open 2012 on Sunday. He jolted down a 6-1, 6-4 victory against the world number 100 to secure
a place in the main draw at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 500 Series event held in Valencia.
The Croatian seed unveiled his true colours after entering this indoor hard court event and eventually recorded a straight sets victory in one hour and 15 minutes. After recording the victory in one hour and 15 minutes, Dodig avenged his loss in Bucharest
earlier this season and booked a spot in the first round.
Dodig thunderously entered the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. He drew the first blood in the second game and jumped to a 3-0 lead. After Brands held his serve in the fourth game, the Croat pocketed the last three games and clicked the opener with a breadstick.
He brushed off the only breakpoint he faced to keep his entire serves and converted two out of three break chances to his advantage.
Ranked 110th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Dodig maintained his intensity in the following set. He swiped his entire serves without facing any barrier. The Croat got the breakthrough in the fifth game after capitalising
on one out of four break chances and sealed the set by winning six games to four.
The Croatian veteran struck seven aces and despite producing a lower first serve share of 57 per cent as compared to his rival’s 63 per cent, he impressively clinched 25 out of 32 points on it.
The qualifying seventh seed, Olivier Rochus, will accompany Dodig in the main draw. He dumped the second seeded local contender, Roberto Bautista-Agut, in straight sets in two hours and eight minutes. The Belgian contender was broken once but cashed four
out of eight break chances to formulate a 6-2, 7-5 score line. He produced a lower first serve share but amazingly marked 37 out of 51 points on it.
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