Lukas Lacko dumps Grega Zemlja to reach the main rounds – Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2012
Seeded at number one in the qualifying draw, Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko overcame the seventh seed Slovenian opponent, Grega Zemlja, in the qualifying competition of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Sunday. The 24-year-old
wrapped up an emphatic victory over his counterpart in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, to book a spot in the main draw of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 500 event.
The fairly poised contest was competed on the hard courts of Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 25-year-old Zemlja posed some serious resistance in the contest before submitting in the second set. He closely
followed his opponent in every segment of the game but failed to cash in the vital opportunities to finish on the losing side in the end. The seventh seed registered just two out of four break points in the match, whereas his opponent stung four out of eight
cracking ones to oust him from the qualifying competition comprehensively.
Despite of a below par serve precision of 52 per cent and committing seven double faults, Lacko dropped just five points on his first serve, securing 24 out of 29 points en route to victory. The top seed Slovak was off to a flying
start in the opening set and kept winning crucial points throughout the matchup to come out as the winner.
Lacko was off to a four-game rampage right from the beginning. He struck two successive break points right up to race away to 4-0 lead, stamping his authority early in the contest. His momentum was finally halted by a vital serve
break from the Slovenian opponent in the eighth game. Zemlja broke Lacko’s serve to curtail the deficit to 3-5 but couldn’t hold on to prevent the top seed from claiming the set. Lacko convincingly served out of the opener at 6-4, getting one up in the match.
Zemlja was off to a quick start in the following set and took the Slovak by surprise in the second game; breaking his serve and then holding to take the scores to 3-0. The seventh seed couldn’t sustain his winning impetus in the
later parts of the set and awarded two vital break opportunities to Lacko, who rightfully converted the two chances to rocket past him. The top seed served out of the second set at 6-4 once again, concluding a well fought victory in style. Lacko will face
Sergei Bubka of Ukraine in the opening round of the main draw.
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