Maxime Teixeira beats Simone Bolelli to reach the main draw – Sud de France Open 2012
Seeded at number seven in the qualifying draw, Maxime Teixeira of France, stunned the top seed Italian, Simone Bolelli, to book a berth in the main draw of Sud de France Open on Monday. The exciting contest lasted for just one
hour and 24 minutes, with Teixeira settling the final scores at 7-5, 6-3.
The world number 163, Teixeira, played tennis far better than his rankings suggest, disposing of the top seed Italian in style. It was a fairly one-sided affair, with Bolelli struggling throughout the game to get some sort of impact
on the game. The top seed Italian has been extremely dominating in the initial qualifying rounds but failed to pose the similar performances on Monday afternoon. The Italian was off to a decent start but lost his way in the later parts of the game to let a
comprehensive win to the local contestant.
Teixeira is yet to register a victory in an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour-level tournament this season and has earned a perfect opportunity to have a shot at it in the main draw. The seventh seed Frenchman
delivered 63 per cent of his first serve on target and clinched 30 out of 38 points en route to victory. He converted three out of five break opportunities in the match, with the top seed Italian striking just one out of his three break chances to remain at
a disadvantage in the match.
Bolelli drew first blood in the third game of the match, breaking the French serve to lead 2-1 early in the match. Teixeira held his next two serves before the huge momentum swing was witnessed in the match; the Frenchman broke
his opponent’s serve to level the scores at 4-4 and the push the set towards a tie-breaker round. Bolelli was serving at 5-6 and it was anticipated that the top seed will enforce a tie-breaker round into play but a surprising serve break by Teixeira stunned
everyone; the French bagged the opening set at 7-5.
Dismal Bolelli couldn’t play well in the following set and squandered away two vital break points. Teixeira, on the other hand, nailed a crucial serve break in the sixth game and carry on his lead until the conclusion of the match
at 6-3. The Frenchman will play his opening round match of the main draw against the eighth seed Finn competitor, Jarkko Nieminen, later this week.
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