Javier Marti dismisses Pablo Figueroa in the second qualifier – SkiStar Swedish Open 2011
World number 217 Javier Marti of Spain cruised past Swedish Pablo Figueroa, ranked 905th in the world, in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in the second qualifier at the SkiStar Swedish Open in Bastad on Sunday. The Spaniard took
just one hour and nineteen minutes to undo his opponent.
Figueroa and Marti comfortably held their serve in the first four games of the first set and equalised the score at 2-2. The Spaniard got the breakthrough as he hit a forehand winner to break his opponent’s serve in the fifth game
and consolidated on it to take a 4-2 lead. Marti served out the set in the tenth game, bagging it 6-4.
The Spaniard served well, hitting 74 percent of the first serves and a single ace in the opening set. Marti grabbed 68 percent of the first service points and 67 percent of the second service points in the first set. In comparison,
Figueroa hit the same number of ace as his opponent but also committed three double faults in the opening set. The Swede kept his first serve percentage at 68 percent and converted 65 percent of the first serves into points. However, the 26-year-old had a
below average second service performance, claiming just four of the eleven points on the second serve. Figueroa failed to capitalise on the only break point opportunity he created on Marti’s serve and could not save one of the two break points on his own serve
in the first set.
The Swede bounced back as he broke Marti in the second game of the second set and held his next service game, blazing forward to a 3-0 lead. However, Figueroa was unable to maintain his form as he managed to clinch only one game
after that. Marti captured six of the next seven games, breaking the Swede twice to clinch the set 6-4.
The Spanish improved his first serve percentage, delivering 85 percent of the first serves in the second set. Marti succeeded in winning 68 percent of the first service points. The 19-year-old, however, was a bit erratic with the
second serve, committing a couple of double faults and sealing a meagre 40 percent of the second service points. The Spaniard won both break points he received on the Swede’s serve and saved five of the six break points on his own serve in the second set.
Fifth seed Marti is slated to meet Croatian Antonio Veic, seeded fourth at the event, in the final qualifier.
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