Kevin Krawietz beats Jan Mertl in the first round – Prague Open 2012 CH
Ranked 293rd in the world, Kevin Krawietz moved to the second round, as he stunned local contestant, Jan Mertl, in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the opener at the Prague Open in Czech Republic on Tuesday.
Krawietz struck at the very beginning of the match, snatching a break in the opening game and holding his following serve to claim a 2-0 lead. The German sustained his advantage throughout the first set, sealing it 6-4.
The 6ft 3in tall smacked one ace and 61 percent of the first serves, winning 15 of the 17 points on them. In comparison, Mertl bombarded four aces and 68 percent of the first deliveries on Krawietz but he succeeded in grabbing
just 16 of the 21 points. The Czech could not create any break chance and failed to save one of the two threats he faced.
Backed by the support of his home crowd, Mertl played better in the second set, as he went neck to neck with the German in the first eight games to take the score to 4-4. The Czech clinched two successively later on to bag it 6-4.
The world number 182 banged in five aces this time but also committed three double faults. He had a low first serve percentage of 54, converting extraordinarily 12 of the 14 of them into points. Mertl did well on the crucial moment,
availing one of the two break opportunities he created on the German’s serve in the second set.
In the deciding showdown, both players started consciously, holding their serve in the opening two games to level the score at 1-1. Krawietz hit a blow in the third and consolidated on it to move ahead 3-1. The German claimed final
breakthrough in the seventh game and served it out at 5-2.
The 20-year-old fired one ace and 61 percent of the first serves in the decider, clinching 11 of the 14 points on them. Krawietz lost eight of the 10 points on Mertl’s first deliveries but compensated that by pocketing eight of
the 13 second return points. The German availed both break chances he received and evaded the two threats he came cross.
Krawietz completed the victory after battling for two hours and one minute.
The German is drawn to take on Russia’s Teymuraz Gabashvili in the second round. The Russian upset second seed, Lukas Lacko, in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in the opener.
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