Lukasz Kubot battles past Pablo Cuevas into the second round of Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Polish Lukasz Kubot, ranked 141st in the world, survived a second set drubbing to beat world number 57 Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay in three sets 7-6(1), 2-6, 6-2 in the opening round of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia at
Foro Italico in Rome on Monday. Kubot needed two hours and 42 minutes to oust his opponent in a marathon match.
In the opening set, none of the two players managed to break other’s serve in the first 12 games to tie the score at 6-6, forcing a tie-break. Kubot was almost flawless in the tie-break, crushing his opponent and winning it 7-1.
Kubot delivered a single ace and 57 percent of the first serves in the opening set, grabbing 84 percent of the points on them. The Polish was lucky to win the set despite Cuevas’ devastating service form. The Uruguayan fired five
aces and 70 percent of the first serves, converting 64 percent of them into points in the opening set. Cuevas saved all the six break points he faced but failed to capitalize on any of the two break point opportunities he created in the first set.
After losing a close opening set, Cuevas fought back and broke Kubot in the first and fifth game of the second set to clinch it 6-2.
The Uruguayan fired two aces and 63 percent of the first serves, bagging 71 percent of the points on them in the second set. On the other hand, Kubot hit the same number of aces but his first serve percentage was lower, delivering
59 percent of the first serves in the second set. Cuevas converted two of the six break points he received in the second set. Whereas, Kubot failed in converting any of the five break point chances he created in the second set.
Kubot did not lose hope even after losing a one-sided second set and bounced back to break Cuevas twice in the deciding set, winning it 6-2.
Kubot was erratic with his second serve, hitting three double faults in the deciding set. The Polish had a first serve percentage of 52 percent, winning an incredible 92 percent of the points on them in the final set. In comparison,
Cuevas hit a couple of aces and kept the first serve percentage at 68 percent in the third set. The right-handed claimed 53 percent of the first service points in the final set. The Uruguayan had a disappointing first return conversion rate as he managed to
convert only one of the 12 first returns into point in the deciding set. Cuevas was unable to save two of the four break points he faced in the third set.
Kubot will face world number 2 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the second round.
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