Jurgen Melzer crushes Janez Semrajc in the qualifiers – PBZ Zagreb Indoors 2012
Qualifying top seed, Jurgen Melzer, pounced over the Slovene competitor, Janez Semrajc, in straight sets at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors 2012 on Sunday. He formulated a 6-1, 6-3 victory over the 22-year-old Slovene to advance into the final round of the qualifiers
at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event taking place in Zagreb, Croatia.
The Vienna native, Melzer, assertively entered the Dom Sportova and stayed on course to enter the main draw of this $416,000 event. Battling each other for the first time, the Austrian confidently booked a spot in final qualifying round.
Ranked 41st in the South African Airways ATP World Rankings, Melzer, thundered into the opening set and drew the first blood in the start of the match. After Semrajc held his serve in the third game, the Austrian unleashed barrage of groundstrokes
to wipe out the last four games in a row and earned a breadstick.
The Austrian kept momentum running into the following set and pocketed the opening three games in a row before Semrajc could hold on. Later, he swiped in remaining serve after maintaining consistency in his game and clinched the set with a 6-3 score line.
All in all, the 30-year-old Austrian formulated a higher first serve share of 74 percent as compared to Semrajc’s 59 percent and distinctively clicked 23 out of 35 points on it. He kept all of his serves without facing any real challenge and converted four
out of seven break opportunities to his advantage.
Next challenge for the qualifying top seed is his compatriot, Martin Fischer, who crippled the German challenger, Kevin Krawietz, with an assuring 6-1, 6-4 score line to set-up this clash. The Austrian failed to defend the only breakpoint he faced but broke
Krawietz’s serve four times to bag the match in an hour.
Fourth seed, Matteo Viola, will join the Austrian in the next round. He earned a 6-4, 3-1 retirement victory against the Croatian star, Toni Androic, in their first meeting. The Italian committed several unforced errors and produced a lower first serve share.
However, he saved five out of eight breakpoints he came across and availed five out of 11 break chances to earn the glory.
The Italian will next confront the seventh seeded Serb, Dusan Lajovic, who overpowered Benjamin Becker of Germany in straight sets to set-up this meeting. Lajovic comfortably held his entire serves and capitalised on two out of seven break opportunities
to manipulate a 7-5, 6-3 score line in 75 minutes.
Tags: