Marsel Ilhan, Igor Kunitsyn reach second round of qualifier at Sony Ericsson Open
Marsel Ilhan defeats Matthew Ebden 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
Marsel Ilhan of Turkey battled past Matthew Ebden of Australia in three sets 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the qualifying draw at the Sony Ericsson Open on Monday. The Turkish took 1 hour and 33 minutes to undo his opponent.
In the first set, Ilhan was broken in the fourth and sixth game, suffering a 1-6 defeat. The Turkish hit a single ace and 52 per cent of the first serves in the opening set. He won 75 per cent of the points on first serves. On
the other hand, his opponent hit 50 per cent of the first serves, winning 75 per cent of the points on them.
After losing the first set abysmally, Ilhan broke Ebden’s serve early in the second set. He consolidated on the single break of serve, winning the second set 6-3. The Turkish capitalised on the single break point he received in
the set. He did not face a single break point in the second set.
Ilhan needed a single break of serve in the deciding set to win it 6-4. The Turkish served quite well in the final set as he hit 5 aces and 86 per cent of the first serves. The 23-year-old converted 2 of the 3 break points he received
in the third set.
The Turkish will meet world number 187 Robert Farah of Columbia in the second round.
Igor Kunitsyn beats Carsten Ball 6-1, 6-1
World number 92 Igor Kunitsyn of Russia crushed world number 183 Carsten Ball of Australia in straight sets to advance to the second round of the qualifying draw. The Russian dropped just 2 games in a one sided match, winning it
6-1, 6-1.
Kunitsyn dominated the match right from the start as he broke Ball three times in the opening set to win it 6-1. He fired in 69 per cent of the first serves and converted 82 per cent of them into points. The Russian converted all
the 3 break points he received in the first set.
After winning the first set easily, Kunitsyn did not allow Ball to come back in the match as he broke the Australian twice in the second set, winning it 6-1. Just like the first set, Ball did not get a single chance to break his
opponent. The 23-year-old saved only 1 of the 3 break points he faced in the second set.
The Russian is drawn to face world number 129 Eric Prodon of France in the next round. The French cruised past world number 186 Carlos Salamanca of Columbia in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 in the first round.
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