Juan Ignacio Chela labours into last eight after dumping Alejandro Falla – French Open 2011
Argentinean Juan Ignacio Chela battled past Colombian qualifier Alejandro Falla in a five set thriller match to advance into the quarter-finals of the Men’s Singles – Roland Garros 2011, second of the four Grand Slam event held in Paris, France.
Chela overpowered the Argentinean in troublesome five sets to advance into the last eight of this major clay court event held in Stade Roland Garros. He last met the Colombian at Toronto TMS a year ago where he displayed exceptional skills and won the match in straight sets. After earning this victory, he took the lead in their head-to-head series by 2-1.
Ranked 120th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings, Falla made a shaky start at Court Suzanne Lenglen and lost his serve in the very first game. However, he roared back by reeling off next four games in a row before the Argentinean could hold on. Although the Colombian lost the next three games to square the scores at 4-4, he broke Chela’s serve again in the last game to clinch the set with a 6-4 win.
A former top fifteen player, Chela made in-roads in the second set and displayed tremendous skills to get the coveted break in the very first game. He then backed it up by keeping his serve in the following game along with breaking for the second time in the third game. Although he lost the next two games, the Argentinean kept his rage mode on and reeled off the remaining three games to pocket the set with an assuring 6-2 score line.
27-year-old Colombian got back on track in the third set and through exquisite forehands from his arsenal of skills, he wiped out the first four games in a row before Chela broke back in the fifth game. Falla kept his momentum in the later games to eventually bag a breadstick in just thirty-four minutes.
31-year-old Chela re-focused back in the game and smoothly held his serve in the first game. Later he exchanged a break in the fifth and sixth game and held his remaining serves to drag the set into the tie-breaker. He eventually sealed the set with a 7-6(4) win by dominating in it.
The Argentinean high spiritedly entered the decider and broke the qualifier’s serve in the very first game. Although he lost his serve in the proceeding game but broke Falla’s serve in the third game again to take the lead. Later he kept his remaining serves and broke the Colombian’s serve again in the seventh game to win the final set with a 6-2 score line.
Up next for the Argentinean is the winner of the match between fourth seeded British Andy Murray and fifteenth seeded Serb Viktor Troicki.
Tags: