Melzer/Philipp to take on Knittel/Stebe in the doubles 2nd round – Mercedes Cup 2011: Preview
The most interesting upcoming match of the Mercedes Cup 2011 is the clash between Bastian Knittel teaming up with Cedrik-Marcel Stebe to play against Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner in the 2nd round of men’s double
ties. Three of the four are home players. The match is going to be being played at the TC Weissenhof, Stuttgart, Germany.
Comparatively Melzer and Philipp have a stronger outlook. Both are in the top 80 in the ranking. The Austrian is the 12 world seed at the moment whereas Bastian and Cedrik are way near to 200 in international rankings.
Bastian and Cedrik qualified in the 2nd round defeating Motti and Andrea Seppi in the 1st whereas the Austrian and the German beat Fabio Fognini and Paolo Lorenz in round 1 of the Mercedes Cup to face the
two Germans. Previously these two players have no head to head record as this was the first time that Bastian Knittel had teamed up with Cedrik.
Analysing the combination of Melzer and Philipp we see a clear advantage. Both have teamed up in several other tours including Wimbledon, Miami Open and Monte-Carlo and now on the Mercedes Cup. Winning 7 of the last 10 matches
played as a team, Melzer and Philipp have shown their teamwork in all grounds. Out of the last 10 matches, the team has played 2 times on clay and 4 each on hard and on grass courts.
However, this does not conclude that the Austrian cannot lose a match teaming up with the German. Bastian and Cedrik has been a strong wall for their competitors in each round. Although they haven’t teamed up before this, they
are still not to be undermined. Performing at his best Cedrik is also in the men’s singles 2nd round due to his stability in the game.
Comparing the two teams at the moment is not an option. The upsets in the tour have created a shadow of doubt for the top ranked players. The only credible advantage for any team is to play steadily and carry the ball to the other
side. The clay court is a slow ground. So it seems even for both of the teams as none on them is an Argentine or Spaniard or in other words clay specialists.
The hot favourites for this match might be Melzer and Philipp but despite the disparity in the rankings of the individuals, it is the team work of the players which leads to win a doubles.
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