Michael Berrer succeeds over Andrej Martin in second round melee – IPP Open 2011 CH
Michael Berrer, German world No.105 and the seventh seed of IPP Open 2011, played his second round fixture against 22-year-old Slovakian, Andrej Martin, ousting him with a comeback in the third set to win 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1, in an hour and 51 minutes of hard indoor circuit match on Wednesday, 23rd November at Tali, Helsinki, Finland.
Firing up first, Martin, winning the service toss, took his side to serve out the match opening, rolling down the scoreboard, 1-0. Following the 22-year-old Slovak, Berrer mustered away with his opening serve evening up the scores, 1-1, with a strong start, triple game point winner.
The two then rallied out games holding their serves to level up at 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and then at 5-5. Flaring up the first set, the two broke one after the other to push the set into a tiebreak. Martin held the first tiebreak serve turning down the scores, 1-0. However, Berrer carried away winning the tiebreaker, 7-5, and the set, 7-6(5) winning and led the match 1-0.
Continuing with set two, Berrer managed to secure his set opening serve, 1-0, followed by the 22-year-old evening up the scores right away. Breaking the German next, Martin secured another winner, however, was unable to take advantage of the breakpoint and lost his serve next, 2-2.
Rallying out a game each, the two again levelled up scores at 3-3 before Berrer fell short that turned the match around. Martin struck with another breakpoint win, 4-3, and followed with a service winner to lead the set, 5-3. Pulling back, Berrer nicked away game nine, however, was unable to break back any soon. Serving out game ten, Martin finished off the set winning 6-4, levelling up the match scores, 1-1, and onto the decider.
Looking strong, Martin returned first in the decider, levelling up after German veteran swiped away the opening game of the third set, 1-1. Berrer, much more experience than the 22-year-old Slovak, served out his second service game, 2-1, and broke his rival in game four, extending his lead to 3-1.
The first service win for the Slovak was the only one for the set as German world No.105 charged in bagging game five, service winner, then game six, breakpoint winner, and finally serving out game seven to finish off the set, 6-1, and the match with a appreciable comeback.
Through into the quarter-final stage of the ATP Challenger Tour event, Berrer will now face the winner of the match between Daniel Brands and Paolo Lorenzi for the semis spot.
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