Julien Benneteau, James Ward proceed to the second round – AEGON Championships 2011
Julien Benneteau downs Daniel Brands 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-4
World number 74 Julien Benneteau of France came back from one set down to defeat world number 133 Daniel Brands of Germany in three sets 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of AEGON Championships at the Queen’s Club in London on
Monday. The French needed an hour and 50 minutes to oust his opponent.
Benneteau and Brands broke each other once in the opening set to tie the score at 6-6 and took it to a tie-break. The German captured a late mini-break in the tie-break and sealed it 8-6. The 23-year-old hit five aces and converted
53 percent of the second serves into points in the first set.
After losing a tight first set, Benneteau fought back and crushed Brands in the second set. The French lost only one game, breaking the German twice and winning the set 6-1. The six feet and one inch tall hit five aces and won
60 percent of the first return points in the second set.
In the final set, Benneteau needed a single break of serve to grab the set 6-4. The French kept his first serve percentage at 81 percent and clinched 82 percent of the points on them in the third set. The 29-year-old converted
one of the three break points he received on Brands’ serve in the deciding set.
Benneteau will meet compatriot Michael Llodra, seeded tenth at the event, in the second round.
James Ward defeats Daniel Cox 6-3, 6-1
In a match between two local wild card entrants, world number 216 James Ward thrashed world number 273 Daniel Cox in straight sets to reach the second round. Ward dropped just four games in the match, winning the contest 6-3, 6-1
in only an hour and one minute.
The Brit broke his opponent in the fifth game of the first set, taking a 3-2 lead. Ward broke Cox again in the ninth game to win the set 6-3. The right-handed fired four aces and 64 percent of the first deliveries, claiming 79
percent of the points on them in the first set. The Brit capitalised on two of the three break point opportunities he created in the opening set.
Ward was merciless in the second set as he allowed Cox to win only one game, breaking the 20-year-old twice to win the set 6-1. The Brit made full use of his big serves as he delivered four aces and 63 percent of the first serves,
winning 83 percent of the points on them in the second set. The right-handed won 50 percent of the first return points in the second set.
The six feet and three inches tall is drawn to play world number 14 Stanislas Wawrinka in the round of 32. The Swiss, seeded fourth at the event, received a bye in the opening round.
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