James Blake eases past Chris Guccione into quarterfinal – Sacramento Challenger 2011
Top seeded American James Blake cruised past Aussie Chris Guccione into the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Natomas Men’s Professional Tennis Tournament in Sacramento, California on Thursday, 6th October.
Going 3-0 in their unofficial head-to-head scores, Blake secured a simple 6-4, 6-4 win over the lower ranked Aussie in only fifty seven minutes. The pair had last met in the opening round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells
earlier in the year with Blake moving on in three sets after bouncing back from a set down.
Calling the coin toss, Guccione opened service in the first set and comfortably made his way onto the scoreboard followed closely by the higher ranked local. With no lengthy rallies or impassable deuces, the match progressed on
even terms as both players held onto their service games with much ease. Levelled for the first eight games, things did not heat up till the ninth game. Forcing a forehand long from the Aussie at 30-40 in the ninth game, Blake clinched a lucky break to lead
the score 5-4. Riding the single breakpoint opportunity, Blake served out the set to secure an easy 6-4 win.
Surviving six aces from Guccione, Blake added his own 81 percent first serve and 88 percent second serve win to the mix to go one up in the set score.
Leading the Aussie, Blake maintained his form as he dominated Guccione from the very start. Converting a breakpoint opportunity in the very first game, Blake secured an early 2-0 lead. Putting up an impregnable defence, Blake did
not face a single breakpoint opportunity as he maintained his lead throughout the set. Standing at another 5-4 lead, Blake comfortably served out the set for another 6-4 win, sealing his straight sets win.
Consistent in his first serve win and improving his second serve win to 100 percent, Blake capitalised off a single double fault from Guccione to secure a spot in the final eight.
Blake now moves on ahead to play compatriot wildcard entrant, Jack Sock in the quarterfinal. Sock moved into the final eight a day early after a thrilling three setter against Moldovian Roman Borvanov. Surviving a mid match lapse
against the Moldovian, Sock moved into the final eight with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win in one hour and forty four minutes.
The two locals are scheduled to kick off the quarterfinal round on Friday, 7th October. Riding the local support equally, either of the two could take the cake in what is expected to be an exciting clash.
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