Jan Hajek downs Florent Serra to reach semis – Rai Open 2012
Czech Republic’s Jan Hajek got the better of the French contender, Florent Serra, in straight sets at the Rai Open 2012 on Friday. He nudged up a 7-5, 6-4 score line against the French veteran to advance into the final four at this ATP (Association of Tennis
Professionals) clay court event taking place in Rome, Italy.
The Olomouc resident, Hajek, got the better of the world number 153 to book a spot in the semi-finals at this ATP Challenger Tour event. After overpowering Serra in one and a half hour-long venture, Hajek powered into the semi-finals where third seeded Rui
Machado awaits him.
Hajek made slow start at this red clay court and suffered the first blow in the second game to go 0-3 down. However, he re-focused his strategy after that and recovered in the seventh game. The Czech remaining focused and not only plucked remaining serves
but cashed in another break chance in the eleventh game, eventually bagging the opener by winning seven games to five.
Ranked 140th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Hajek kept momentum sailing into the following set earned the critical break in the opening game to jump to a 2-0 lead. The Czech then held his remaining serves until he gifted
away his serve in the eighth game, consequently levelling the scores at 4-4. However, he cashed in another break chance in the very next game and sealed the set with a 6-4 win.
All in all, Hajek committed five double faults and clobbered a lower first serve share of 58 per cent as compared to the French’s 66 per cent. However, he amazingly clicked 27 out of 41 points on it.
Next challenge for Hajek is the third seed, Rui Machado, who crushed his compatriot, Joao Sousa, with a bagel to set-up this meeting. The Portuguese seed got the better of his fellow citizen after cashing in five out of eight break opportunities in one hour
and 23 minutes. He manifested a better first serve share of 73 per cent as compared to Sousa’s 52 per cent and tremendously availed 26 out of 36 points.
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