Jan Hajek stuns Daniel Gimeno-Traver to reach main draw – Valencia Open 2012
Czech contender, Jan Hajek, upset the qualifying top seed, Daniel Gimeno-Traver, in straight sets at the Valencia Open 2012 on Sunday. He penned down a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory against the world number 66 to power into the main draw at this indoor hard court
tournament taking place in Valencia, Spain.
The Czech veteran warded off late resistance to outrun Gimeno-Traver in their second meeting. The contestants last met each other at the World Team Championship in Dusseldorf two years ago and after recording this victory, Hajek not only maintained his winning
record but also advanced into the first round.
Hajek made a thunderous entry at the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. He broke his opponent’s serve twice and jumped to a 4-1 lead. Apart from losing his serve in the sixth game, the Czech capitalised on another break chance in the very next game and took
a 5-2 lead. He lost his serve in the eighth game but remained calm and served out the opener with a 6-4 win.
Ranked 113th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Hajek lost his track towards the following set. He suffered the first blow in the second game and fell at 0-3. However, the Czech stayed focused and snatched his break back in
the fifth game, eventually levelled the scores at 3-3. He continued sliding his remaining serves and took the set to a tie-breaker. Hajek edged past his opponent in it and clinched the set with a 7-6(4) score line.
The 29-year-old clobbered an equal first serve share of 58 per cent and amazingly availed 30 out of 43 points on it. He struck three aces and sought eight break chances.
Up next for Hajek is the local contender, Marcel Granollers, in the first round.
The qualifying second seed, Roberto Bautista-Agut, will join Gimeno-Traver towards the exit doors. He was underplayed against the seventh seed, Olivier Rochus from Belgium, in two hours and eight minutes.
Ranked 79th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Bautista-Agut cashed only one out of 14 break chances but was broken four times, eventually suffering a 2-6, 5-7 shock.
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