Joao Sousa downs Gerrard Granollers in the second round – Sibiu Challenger 2012
Third seed, Joao Souza of Portugal, routed Spain’s low ranked player, Gerard Granollers, in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of Sibiu Challenger in Romania on Thursday.
Sousa did not allow the Spaniard to settle down in the match, breaking him in the second game and holding his following serve to gain a 3-0 lead. The Portuguese player maintained his lead till the end and clinched it 6-3.
Ranked 126th in the world, Sousa banged in two aces and 72 percent of the first serves, securing 15 of the 26 points on them in the opening set. The Portuguese player performed solidly on his second deliveries, as he
did not commit any double fault and captured eight of the 10 points. Though, Sousa lost six of the nine on the second returns. The Portuguese contender evaded the only break threat he came across and utilised one of the two opportunities he got.
Carrying the winning momentum into second set, Sousa hit a blow to the Spaniard in the very first game and won his subsequent serve to attain a 2-0 advantage. However, Granollers broke back in the fourth one to square off the score
at 2-2. The following four games did not see any player striking, taking the score to 4-4. Sousa made decisive breakthrough in the ninth and served out the match at 5-4.
The Portuguese competitor hit a couple of aces and 78 percent of the first serves in the second set. The right-hander had a satisfactory conversion rate, pocketing 15 of the 21 first and four of the six second delivery points.
The 23-year-old fared better on his second returns than the first ones, as he won six of the 11 and nine of the 22 points on them respectively. The Portuguese contestant was unable to save the only break point he faced and converted two of the three he received.
Sousa required an hour and 24 minutes to complete this win and oust his opponent in a one sided encounter.
The Portuguese player will lock horns with the sixth seeded Austrian, Andreas Haider-Maurer, in the quarter-finals.
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