Juan Monaco ousts Kevin Anderson in the quarter-final – US Men’s Clay Court Championship 2012
Seeded fourth at the event, Juan Monaco of Argentina, advanced to his third semi-final of the season, as he ended the challenge of fifth seed, Kevin Anderson, in the quarter-final at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston
on Friday. Monaco needed two hours and seven minutes to beat his South African opponent in straight sets 7-6(4), 7-5.
Monaco and Anderson began by breaking each other in the opening two games of the first set, evening out the score at 1-1. Both of them held their serve during rest of the set, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker.
Monaco grabbed a 6-3 lead and made the most of it to win 7-6(4).
The Argentinean smacked a single ace and did not commit any double fault. The right-hander put in 75 percent of the first serves, claiming 22 of the 27 points on them. He also gave a decent performance on the second returns, converting
eight of the 18 of them into points in the opener.
The second set went with the serve in the first 10 games, equalising the score at 5-5. Monaco succeeded in making a breakthrough in the 11th game and consolidated on it to triumph 7-5.
The Argentinean banged in a couple of aces but this time he also delivered the same number of double faults. The 28-year-old converted 17 of the 20 first and eight of the 15 second serves into points. The Buenos Aires, Argentina
resident did not give Anderson any break opportunity and availed one of the two of his own in the second set.
Monaco is in supreme form, as he reached the last four at the Sony Ericsson Open two weeks back.
Talking to the reporters in the post match press conference, he said, "I’m trying to not think about that. I’m just trying to improve my tennis. If I’m winning matches, then the ranking and all the points that will come along.
The Argentinean added, "I knew it was going to be a very close match. You never know when you play big-serving guys. I was focused all during the match, and I tried to win my serves, and then when I got a few opportunities for
a break, I played my best tennis there. I tried to be very, very focused on those moments and I did it."
Monaco is slated to face qualifier, Michael Russell of USA, in the semi-final.
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