Ivan Dodig upsets David Goffin in qualifiers – Western and Southern Open 2012
Croatian contender, Ivan Dodig, stunned the qualifying fifth seed, David Goffin, in straight sets at the qualifying competition of Western and Southern Open 2012 on Sunday. He recorded a 6-2, 6-2 success against the 21-year-old to power into the main draw at this Emirates Airline US Open Series event taking place in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina-born Dodig prevailed throughout the battle to steal the limelight in one hour and 18 minutes. Battling each other for the first time, the 27-year-old comfortably progressed into the first round at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Masters 1000 series taking place from 11th to 19th August.
Dodig thundered into the Lindner Family Tennis Center. He drew the first blood in the fourth game and jumped to a 4-1 lead. The Croat held his remaining serves with poise and cashed in another break chance in the last game, eventually sealing the opener by winning six games to two.
Ranked 116th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Dodig kept momentum running towards the second set. He got the critical break in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. Despite failing to block the lone breakpoint he came across, the Croat capitalised on another break chance in the fourth game and leaped to a 4-1 lead. He held his remaining serves and after breaking Goffin’s serve once again, the Croat clinched the set with a 6-2 score line.
The Croatian veteran struck 10 aces and committed fewer double faults. He manifested a better first serve share of 58 per cent as opposed to the Belgian’s 47 per cent and impressively clicked 24 out of 29 points on it.
Up next for Dodig is the Serbian star, Viktor Troicki, in the main draw.
The qualifying second seed, Alejandro Falla from Colombia faced a bitter reality later that day. He suffered a 5-7, 1-6 shocking defeat at the hand of the Taiwanese competitor, Yen-Hsun Lu, in one and a half hour-long venture. The left-handed Colombian failed to cash in both break opportunities he sought and dusted away only nine out of 12 breakpoints he faced.
Lu on the other hand will confront Poland’s Lukasz Kubot in the first round.
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