Matthew Ebden trounces Jan Mertl to reach main draw – China Open 2012
Seeded second in this qualifying competition, Matthew Ebden from Australian stomped over the Czech contender, Jan Mertl, in straight sets at the China Open 2012 on Saturday. He juggled up a 6-2, 6-4 success against the world number 190 to power into the
opening round at this outdoor hard court event held in Beijing, China.
The Australian challenger needed one hour and 11 minutes to outrun Mertl in their first encounter. After registering this success, Ebden entered the main draw of this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 Series event convincingly.
The Durban, South Africa native Ebden made a powerful entry at the National Tennis Center. He drew the first blood in the fourth game and jumped to a 4-1 lead. The Aussie held his remaining serves with poise and broke his opponent’s serve once again, eventually
sealing the opener by winning six games to two.
Ranked 61st in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Ebden carried his rhythm in the following set. After warding off both breakpoints he came across, the Aussie swiped his entire serves. He got the breakthrough in the last game and
clicked the set with a 6-4 success.
On the whole, the 24-year-old clobbered a better first serve share of 63 per cent as compared to his rival’s 60 per cent and impressively marked 29 out of 38 points on it. He spilled more double faults but finished the match with 57 points in contrast with
the Czech’s 50 points.
Ebden will square off against fifth seeded Richard Gasquet from France in the first round.
The qualifying top seed, Brian Baker, will join Ebden in the following round. He crippled his compatriot, Donald Young, with a breadstick in one hour and four minutes to progress.
The American veteran failed to ward off the lone breakpoint he came across but cashed in five out of 14 break chances to formulate a 6-3, 6-1 score line. He produced a poor first serve share of 55 per cent as compared to his rival’s 70 per cent but impressively
clinched 17 out of 22 points on it.
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