Martin Klizan ousts Thomaz Bellucci to enter round two – Shanghai Rolex Masters 2012
Slovakian star, Martin Klizan, tumbled the Brazilian star, Thomaz Bellucci, in straight sets at the Shanghai Rolex Masters 2012 on Sunday. He notched up a 6-3, 6-4 victory against the world number 39 to power into the second round at this ATP (Association
of Tennis Professionals) Masters 1000 event held in Shanghai, China.
The Slovakian, who captured his maiden career title this season, displayed brilliant skills to overpower Bellucci in one hour and 27 minutes. After earning this success, Klizan not only avenged his loss at the Sao Paulo Challenger Tour Finals last season
but also booked a spot in the second round at this outdoor hard court event.
Klizan thundered into the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena. He went on a five-game killing spree before the left-handed Brazilian could hold on. Apart from losing his serve in the seventh game, the Slovak plucked his serve once more and clicked the opener
with a 6-3 win.
Ranked 34th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Klizan kept momentum rolling in the following set. He got the coveted break in the fifth game and took a 3-2 lead. Regardless of levelling the scores in the very next game, the
Slovak got the breakthrough in the ninth game and clinched the set with a 6-4 score line.
Summing up the 23-year-old’s performance, Klizan superbly warded off nine out of 11 breakpoints he came across and cashed in all four break chances to earn the fame. He produced a lower first serve share of 55 per cent as compared to his rival’s 65 per cent
but impressively marked 29 out of 42 points on it. Klizan spilled more double faults but finished the match with 72 points.
Up next for Klizan is the 10th seed, Marin Cilic, who dumped the Polish qualifier, Lukasz Kubot, in straight sets to set up this meeting.
The Spanish veteran, Fernando Verdasco, also stole the limelight later that day. He trashed Japanese star, Go Soeda, in straight sets in almost one and a half hour-long venture. The Spaniard was broken once but capitalised on four out of six break chances
to progress.
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