Michael Berrer ousts Jeremy Chardy; Florian Mayer exits as well – Mercedes Cup 2013
Local wild card entrant, Michael Berrer, shocked the third seed, Jeremy Chardy, in a three-set nail-biter at the Mercedes Cup 2013 on Wednesday. The sixth seed, Florian Mayer, also saw the exit doors after edging out by the French
star, Gael Monfils, at this outdoor clay court event taking place in Stuttgart, Germany.
The former Top 50, Berrer surprised everyone by overpowering the Australian Open surprise quarter-finalist this season. Chardy also secured third round berths at the French Open and Wimbledon Championships before entering the Tennis
Club Weissenhof.
"It can’t be better," the jubilant German was quoted in a courtside interview after stealing the show. "I haven’t played for a long time in main draws on the tour so to be in the quarter-finals on what people say is my weakest
surface is really amazing. I’m looking forward to playing in front of the crowd Friday."
Berrer leaped to a 3-1 lead with a break of serve. After Chardy held his serve in the fifth game, the veteran stroke out the last three games and clinched the opening set with a 6-2 score line.
In the following set, both players displayed brilliant skills and took the set to a tie-breaker. The seed ruled in it and grabbed the equaliser with a 7-6(1) victory.
The 33-year-old re-gained his strength in the deciding set. He smoothly held his serves and got the breakthrough in second last game, eventually recoding a 6-3 win.
This was Berrer’s second tour-level win of the season. He will take on the Spanish challenger, Roberto Bautista-Agut for a chance to reach semis.
The local seed, Mayer, also became casualty of the day. He bowed out to the former world number seven in brutal straight sets to endure this defeat.
“I think I played good, very consistent,” said the French contender in a post match presser. “Obviously the first game was a bit tough, then I just felt very good on the court. I served very good today. I was very pleased about
my performance. I was hitting hard and running good. I’m happy.”
The French star reeled off last 10 games to crush Mayer with a bagel. He suffered the first blow in the second game and trailed at 0-2. However, Monfils not only recovered in the very next game but continued hitting angled shots
to seal the opener by winning six games to three.
Ranked 46th in the Emirates Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Mayer failed to seek his momentum in the following set. He lost his serve three times and failed to cash break opportunity, subsequently lost the set with
a bagel.
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