Joao Souza, Igor Andreev face upset losses in the opening qualifier – BNP Paribas Open 2012
Sergei Bubka beats Joao Souza 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5)
World number 191, Ukrainian Sergei Bubka, upset fifth seed Joao Souza in three sets 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5) in the first round qualifier at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Tuesday.
Bubka scored a tough win over the Brazilian in two hours and 18 minutes.
The Ukrainian made a couple of breakthroughs in the first set and did not lose his own serve, capitalising on them to bag the set 6-2. The right-hander bulldozed the Brazilian with his fiery first serves, hitting three aces and
claiming an amazing 10 of the 11 points on them.
Both players broke each other once in the first eleven games of the second set and took the score to 6-5 in Souza’s favour. Serving to stay in the set at 5-6, the Ukrainian could not hold his serve and lost the set 5-7.
Bubka and Souza swapped a break of serve in the decider, equalising the score at 6-6 and taking the set to a tie-breaker. The Ukrainian kept his nerves under control and sealed it 7-6(5).
The 25-year-old is pitted against 14th seed Thomas Schoorel in the second qualifier. Schoorel prevailed over Dennis Novikov of USA in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(7) in the first round.
Tim Smyczek defeats Igor Andreev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
Sixth seed Igor Andreev joined Souza in the list of upset casualties, as he was beaten by the world number 252, Tim Smyczek, 1-6, 6-1, 3-6, in the first round of the qualifying draw.
Smyczek made a stunning start, allowing the Russian to clinch only a single game in the opener. The American struck two blows to Andreev and served out the set at 5-1. The Russian made a number of errors on his second serves. He
committed three double faults and won just six of the 13 points on them.
Andreev rose to his original standards in the second set. The Russian made a couple of breakthroughs and lost just one game, capturing it 6-1.
When Andreev won the second set convincingly, it looked like he will dominate in the decider too. However, Smyczek had other plans in mind. The American stole Andreev’s serve once in the final set to win it 6-3.
It took Smyczek an hour and 53 minutes to upset his Russian opponent.
The American will face off compatriot Michael Russell in the second round. Seeded 15th at the event, Russell overpowered wild card entrant Haithem Abid in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 in the first qualifier.
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