Jan Hajek outlasts Steve Darcis to qualify for the semi-finals – BNP Paribas Polish Open 2011 CH
Czech Jan Hajek, ranked 166th in the world, upset world number 95 and fifth seed Steve Darcis of Belgium in straight sets 7-6(4), 6-3 in the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Polish Open on Thursday. It took the Czech
an hour and 36 minutes to oust his opponent.
Darcis made a positive start as he broke the Czech in the first game of the opening set and held his next service game to build a 2-0 lead. The Belgian maintained the lead until the ninth game but he failed to serve out the set
at 5-4, getting broken to square off the score at 5-5. Darcis and Hajek held their serve in the next two games to tie the score at 6-6 and take the set to a tie-break. The Belgian claimed an early mini-break in the tie-break to take a 3-1 lead. However, after
that, it was all Hajek show as he grabbed seven of the eight next points to clinch the tie-break 7-4.
The Czech hit 51 percent of the first serves and two aces in the opening set. Hajek sealed 71 percent of the points on the first serve and 70 percent of the points on the second serve in the first set. The five feet and eleven
inches tall captured 37 percent of the first return points in the opening set. The Czech capitalised on one of the two break point opportunities on Darcis’ serve and succeeded in saving four of the five break points on his own serve in the first set.
After losing a tight first set, Darcis came roaring into the second set, breaking the Czech in the first and third game to blaze forward to a 3-0 lead. However, Hajek made a great comeback as he did not lose a single game after
that, breaking Darcis three times and winning six successive games to grab the set 6-3.
The Czech had a satisfactory first serve percentage, delivering 53 percent of the first serves in the second set. The 27-year-old clinched five of ten first service points and four of the nine second service points in the second
set. Hajek, however, returned impressively as he sealed an amazing 58 percent of the first return points. The Czech won four of the five break points he received and failed to save both break points he faced in the second set.
Hajek is slated to take on fourth seed Eric Prodon of France in the semi-finals. The French beat compatriot Florent Serra in three sets 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
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