Michael Llodra beats Sam Querrey in the first round at the Mutua Madrid Open
Frenchman Michael Llodra had an easy victory over world number 18 Sam Querrey of America in the first round of the 2011 Mutua Madrid Open at Park Manzanares on Monday. Ranked 27th in the world, Llodra took down his contender in
straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, taking just one hour and three minutes of play to ensure his presence in the next round of the tournament.
The 30-year-old Frenchman displayed tremendous tennis skills to discharge the American pro out the tournament. Even though Querrey’s first serve percentage was not too different than Llodra’s, still Llodra’s winning efficiency
turned out to be the basic reason of his victory in the match. The French pro won 59 percent of service points in total while his American opponent hanged back with a meagre 41 percent.
The 23-year-old Querrey had a sloppy start to match as he couldn’t find the strength and determination he required to deal with Llodra. He had poor footwork and his shots were not finding their marks. More experienced Llodra was
really giving a tough time to his opponent and making him run to every corner. Querrey looked very agile and alert and the difference of eight years of tennis experience was very evident.
Llodra was completely enjoying his opponent’s bad performance whose most of the balls were either sailing out of the court or into the net. Llodra had already assessed his contender’s weaknesses and now he was fully exploiting
them. Llodra hit a single ace, 80 percent of the first serves and won an amazing 88 percent gain on them. Querrey on the other hand, started the set very carelessly and won 65 percent behind his 57 percent first serves. Querrey’s worse performance led him
down in the opener whereas his French opponent who didn’t face a single breakpoint somehow managed to clinch the set with a 6-2 score line.
After the first set win, Llodra looked much focused, though he faced resistance from his American opponent. This time Querrey had a lot to offer as he fired in 76 percent of his first serves and won 50 percent on his first serves
and 60 percent on his second serves. The American pro was completely in form before the French pro delivered the last blow to his opponent. Llodra gained 61 percent on his service and 48 percent on return to clinch the final set with a 6-3 score line.
Llodra will face Italy’s Flavio Cipolla who is a qualifier at the tournament. This will be the first meeting between these two. Cipolla, who is ranked 160th in the ATP singles rankings list, hasn’t won a single title
during his professional career.
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