Mirnyi/Nestor rallies past Cilic/Melo to reach quarters – Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012
Second seeded duo, Belarus’ Max Mirnyi and Canada’s Daniel Nestor, downed the Croatian-Brazilian team, Marin Cilic and Marcelo Melo, in straight sets at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012 on Thursday. They formulated a 7-6(6), 3-6, 10-5 success against their
opponents to secure a place in the final eight at this clay court event held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Monaco.
The Belarusian-Canadian junction dominated throughout the match to overcome Cilic and Melo in this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour Masters 1000 event.
Mirnyi and Nestor made a slow start at the Monte Carlo Country Club and suffered the first blow in the seventh game to trail at 3-4. However, they quickly counterattacked and snatched their break back in the very next game. The beaming pair remained focused
and subsequently dragged the set to a tie-breaker before pulling out the opener with a 7-6(6) score line.
The unseeded duo got in action in the proceeding set and earned the coveted break in the fourth game to cruise at 4-1. They maintained consistency in their game and held their remaining serves with conviction, ultimately sealing the equaliser by winning
six games to three.
The match could have gone in either direction but the seeds found their early rhythm again and jumped to an 8-2 lead. They held their nerves after that and consequently clinched the super tie-breaker with a 10-5 score line.
All in all, the Belarusian-Canadian collaboration produced a lower first serve share of 59 per cent as compared to their opponents’ 65 per cent and brilliantly marked 33 out of 41 points on it. They also dusted away three out of five breakpoints they faced
and converted one out of two break chances to his advantage.
Next in line for the seeds is the Serbian-Swiss tandem, Viktor Troicki and Stanislas Wawrinka, who stunned the sixth seeded Indians, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, in straight sets to set-up this encounter. Troicki and Wawrinka lost their serve twice
but broke the Indians’ serve four times to manipulate a 6-4, 6-4 score line. They also hammered four aces and availed 23 out of 29 points on their first serve share to dominate.
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