Marinko Matosevic conquers Ruben Bemelmans to lift the title – Status Athens Challenger 2012 CH
Fourth seed, Marinko Matosevic, tumbled over the Belgian star, Ruben Bemelmans, in straight sets at the Status Athens Challenger 2012 on Sunday. He registered a 6-3, 6-4 victory against the 24-year-old to claim the title at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Challenger Tour event taking place in Athens, Greece.
Matosevic was broken down once but cashed in half of the six break chances to get the better of the left-handed Belgian in straight sets. In their last battle at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the Aussie easily trashed Bemelmans. He carried his rhythm at this event and pulled out the victory.
The 26-year-old high-spiritedly entered this hard court event and held his serve in the opening game with poise. He maintained consistency in his game and smoothly swiped in remaining serves. The Aussie got the breakthrough in the eighth game and clinched the opener with a 6-3 score line.
Ranked 92nd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Matosevic kept momentum rolling into the proceeding set and after breaking his rival’s serve twice, he jumped to a 4-1 lead. Apart from wasting his chance of carving out the set with a breadstick, the Aussie held his serve once more and sealed the set by winning six games to four.
Summing up the enthusiastic Aussie’s performance, Matosevic clobbered a better first serve share of 74 per cent as compared to his opponent’s 70 per cent and brilliantly marked 32 out of 40 points on it. He also hammered four aces and finished the match with 59 points.
The Aussie overpowered the French challenger, Fabrice Martin, in straight sets and Switzerland’s Michael Lammer with a breadstick in the opening two rounds. He lost the opening set in his quarter-final clash against Moldova’s Roman Borvanov. However, Matosevic made a fitting reply afterwards, pulling out the victory with two breadsticks. The veteran improved his ways in the final four and dumped the Canadian contestant, Peter Polansky, in straight sets to occupy this final spot.
The fifth seeded Bemelmans on the other hand travelled a difficult journey towards the final round. He stunned third seeded Jurgen Zopp in straight sets in the last eight round. The Belgian then bounced back to triumph over the second seeded Slovak, Karol Beck, to set-up this clash. Overall, the Bemelmans did not lose a single set before the semi-final battle and entered the title-round with full confidence.
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