Lamine Ouahab bounces over Martin Fischer to enter the main draw – Grand Prix Hassan II 2012
Algerian tennis star, Lamine Ouahab, got the better of the Austrian contender, Martin Fischer, in three sets at the qualifying competition of Grand Prix Hassan II 2012 on Monday. He hit back to formulate a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory against the world number 231
to enter the main draw at the Complexe Al Amal in Casablanca, Morocco.
The underdog remained focused after losing the opening set and ultimately carved out the success in two hours and 39 minutes. Both contestants were fighting each other for the first time and after bagging this match, Ouahab confidently entered the opening
round at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event.
The 25-year-old made quick in-roads despite suffering the first blow in the seventh game. He snatched his break back in the very next game and capitalised on another break chance in the last game to pull out the opener with a 7-5 win.
Ranked 752nd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Ouahab re-structured his strategy in the following set and held his opening serve to square the scores at 1-1. He maintained consistency in his game and earned the desiderated
break in the fifth game to put his nose ahead for the first time in this set. The Algerian converted another break chance to his advantage in the last game sealed the equaliser by winning six games to three.
Ouahab lost the winning path in the start of the final set as he gifted away his opening serve and fell at 0-2. After Fischer held his serve in the fourth game, the Algerian veteran unleashed flurry of groundstrokes to wipe out the following five games in
a row, consequently clinching the decider with a 6-3 score line.
Next challenge for Ouahab is the Dutch number one, Robin Haase, in the opening round.
The qualifying fifth seed, Federico Delbonis, will join Ouahab in the main draw. He swiped in his entire serves with poise and broke Nicolas Devilder’s serve three times to manipulate a 6-2, 6-3 success. The Argentinean fired three aces and superbly clicked
24 out of 28 points on his better first serve share to earn the spotlight.
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