Marius
Copil struggles past Simon
Stadler into the final qualifier – Kosice Open 2012 CH
Romania’s Marius
Copil, seeded first in the draw, bounced back after getting one set to love down, outlasting the world number 571, Simon
Stadler of Germany, 5-7, 6-4,
6-4 in the second round of the qualifying event of Kosice Open in Slovakia on Sunday.
The Romanian contender took two hours and 14 minutes to clinch victory in a hard fought contest.
Stadler was first to take lead, as he stung a breakthrough in the very first game of the match to
go up 1-0. However, his advantage didn't last longer, as Copil struck back immediately to level the score at 1-1. The next eight games went with the
serve to take the proceeding to 5-5. Stadler captured two in a row after that and sealed the first set 7-5.
The German player did not have impressive statistics on serve, as he could not hit any ace and committed one double fault. He managed to put in just 67
percent of the first serves and won 15 of the 24 points on them. The 28-year-old, however, succeeded in putting away five of the six break threats he came across and utilised two of the four chances he created in the opener.
Stadler and
Copil started the second set steadily, holding their serves in the first eight games and evened out the score at 4-4. The Romanian
struck in the ninth and won his following serve to triumph 6-4.
Copil banged in three aces and 60 percent of the first serves, sealing 14 of the 18 points on them.
The 6ft 4in tall also performed well on the second deliveries and returns, securing seven of the 12 and four of the nine points on them respectively. The Romanian did not come across any break threat and availed one of the two opportunities he had in the second
set.
In the final set,
Copil and
Stadler didn't lose their serve in the first six games to take the proceedings to 3-3.
Copil snatched a break in the seventh and made the most of it to win 6-4.
The Romanian pounded six aces and 71 percent of the first deliveries, sealing amazingly 18 of the 20 points on them. He was rusty on the second
serves, losing five of the eight. The 21-year-old converted three of the seven second returns into points in the decider.
Copil is slated to meet seventh seed, Steven
Diez of Canada, in the final qualifier.
Tags: