Jan Hernych cruises into final eight with a win over Grega Zemlja – Eckental Challenger 2011
On November 3, 2011, the Eckental Challenger featured the match between Grega Zemlja (Slovakia) and Jan Hernych (Czech Republic). The Czech player showed dominance in the first set and kept going with a decent pace to win the match
6-4, 2-6, 7-6(8).
The 25-year old Zemlja was impressive in the match by delivering thirteen aces as compared to the five delivered by Hernych.
He did, however, conceded double faults eight times in the match, which could be the reason for he was trying to lead into the match by winning his service games. He had a 61% first serve winning ratio, higher than his opponent.
In the first set, both players were on the offensive. They delivered three aces each and conceded no double fault. Their first serve winning ratios in the first set was also similar as both secured a 50% winning rate.
It is interesting to note that both players also won 64% points on their first serve. The difference in their statistics during the first match came when Zemlja could save only one of his three breakpoints. The Czech could not
save the single double fault he faced, but still won the first set 6-4.
Going into the second set, the 124th ranked Zemlja created a decent lead. He scored four aces and had a 72% first serve winning ratio, higher than Hernych’s 50%. The Slovakian also won 83% of his points on first serve,
giving him extra room to move ahead than in opponent.
Zemlja served well in the second set. His serves were on target and provided him the necessary pace to create a lead in terms of games won.
Hernych, ranked at 218th place in the world, was trying hard to win the second set but twice Zemlja broke his serves. The Slovakian had dominated his Czech opponent by restricting him on two games. The lead kept growing
as Zemlja won the second set 6-2.
With the third being the deciding part of the game, both players entered by winning one set each. The fate of both the players depended on the third set. Zemlja was again proving his skills on the tennis court when he scored six
aces. He did concede five double faults, which was the result of his offensive strategy in his service games.
The Czech was unsuccessful in creating a lead, however, with only s single ace in the third set and a lower first serve winning percentage, he was successful in remaining at equal levels with the Slovakian.
Zemlja was playing his service games with caution as he saved all eight of his breakpoints. The Czech, however, played all of his service games with intensity and did not let his opponent break any of his serves.
Although, in the third set, Hernych was on the back foot, he was still able to take the set into a tiebreaker. Zemlja became desperate to win the match that is why he could not win the third set even with a higher number of aces
and points won on first serves.
Hernych prevailed with his consistent form and composed nature as he won the third set 7-6(8) and cruised into the next round of the competition.
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