Juan Cabal, Maximo Gonzalez ease into quarterfinal round – Aguascalientes Open 2011 CH
Colombian Juan Sebastian Cabal bounced back from a set down to make his way into the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Aguascalientes Open on Thursday, 29th September as he met local Manuel Sanchez for their second round
match at the event. Played on red clay courts, the tournament is part of the ATP Challenger Tour.
Falling short in front of his home crowd, Sanchez came crashing out of the event after suffering a 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 defeat in a match that lasted for two hours and twenty four minutes.
Sanchez called and won the toss, opting to open serve. Hoping to do the locals proud, Sanchez started the match on a high note. Although the pair exchanged breakpoints early on in the set, the score remained on even terms for the
first eight games. Both players managed to hold onto most of their service games. Despite being the higher ranked player, Cabal had trouble maintaining his composure against the local. Double faulting in the ninth game, Cabal gave away a breakpoint opportunity
to Sanchez who pounced on it readily taking a 5-4 lead before serving out the set to clinch a 6-4 victory.
Down but definitely not out, Cabal fought back in the second set. Matching blow for blow, the Colombian held his own against Sanchez and the crowd cheering for the local. Repeating the initial performance of the first set, the
pair exchanged a breakpoint opportunity early on though this time round they took it a step further, keeping the score tied for ten games. It was only on the eleventh game that Cabal was able to clinch a lucky breakpoint opportunity after several deuces and
long rallies, to secure a 6-5 lead. Wasting no time, the Colombian served out the twelfth game to secure a 7-5 win, bringing the set score to even terms.
With one set each, the pair entered the deciding set. Although Sanchez opened serve and managed to hold his own for a while, it was evident that the local had lost steam. Standing at 3-3, Cabal employed a break-serve-break to clinch
the decider 6-3, securing his berth in the quarterfinal of the event.
The eighth seed now moves on ahead to play the second seeded Argentine Maximo Gonzalez. Gonzalez sailed into the quarterfinal match after enjoying an easy 6-0, 6-3 win over Romaine Catalin Gard in only sixty one minutes.
Profiting off Gard’s ten double faults and adding his own ace to the mix, Gonzalez converted six of ten breakpoint opportunities to his advantage as he blasted away the Romaine to move on ahead at the event.
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