James Blake overcomes Pablo Andujar in the opening round – Citi Open 2012
Former world number four, James Blake of USA, came back after dropping the first set to surprise the fifth seeded Spaniard, Pablo Andujar, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the Citi Open in Washington on Monday.
Blake and Andujar started steadily, winning their serve in the first nine games to take the score to 5-4 in the favour of the latter. The Spaniard struck in the 10th to grab the opening set 6-4.
Andujar served stunningly well, as he hit two aces and did not commit any double fault, putting in 82 percent of the first serves and securing 17 of the 23 points on them. The Spaniard was flawless on the second deliveries, as
he grabbed all the five points on them. The 5ft 11in tall put away the only break threat he came across and availed one of the two chances he created in the opener.
The Spanish player and his American opponent broke each other in the opening two games, evening out the score at 1-1. Blake struck again in the third and consolidated on it to move ahead 3-1. The American player snatched a break
again in the seventh and made the most of it to win 6-2.
Blake smashed two aces and won 10 of the 15 first serve points. The right-hander responded aggressively to Andujar’s second serves, pocketing eight of the 10 points on them. The Spaniard was himself to blame for his loss in the
second set, as he could not hit even a single ace and made four double faults.
Just like the previous set, Blake hit a blow to Andujar in the very first game of the decider and this time he held his subsequent serve to attain a 2-0 lead. The American participant nailed a break again in the seventh and served
it out at 5-2.
While talking to the reporters during the post match press conference, Blake said, "Most of the year I haven't been 100 per cent. My legs are under me now and I can move so much better. I was falsely optimistic earlier in the year…I
don't have the ability to compete with these guys if I am not 100 percent... If I don't have my legs, I'm really not one of the elite players out here."
The American player is slated to face either Jurgen Zopp of Estonia, or the third seed, Kevin Anderson of South Africa, in the second round.
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