Mischa Zverev, Benjamin Becker proceed to the quarterfinals – Orange Open 2012 CH
Mischa Zverev defeats James Blake 6-3, 6-3
World number 220, Mischa Zverev, pulled one of the biggest wins of his career by upsetting the former world number four, James Blake of USA, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the second round at the Orange Open in Guadeloupe, France
on Thursday.
Zverev claimed double breakthrough and did not lose his own serve even once in the opening set, winning it 6-3.
The German delivered a single ace and the same number of double fault, putting in 62 percent of the first serves. In comparison, Blake banged in two aces and 67 percent of the first deliveries but his first serve conversion rate
was pathetic, losing 12 of the 22 points on them.
With the winning momentum on his side, Zverev made the ideal start in the second set, as he secured first three games to attain a 3-0 lead. The German maintained his advantage till the end and served it out at 5-3.
Blake served poorly, committing three double faults and not hitting an ace. The American put in just 45 percent of the first deliveries in the second set. The match lasted for an hour and nine minutes.
Zverev will play fifth seed, Igor Kunitsyn of Russia, in the quarterfinals. The Russian toppled Gianni Mina in straight sets 7-5, 6-4 in the second round.
Benjamin Becker beats Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-0, 6-2
Ranked 165th in the world, Benjamin Becker of Germany, humiliated Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France to advance to the last eight. The German let Herbert win just two games in the entire match, capturing
it 6-0, 6-2 in just an hour and four minutes.
Becker did not lose even a single game in the first set, breaking the French three times and consolidating on all of them to grab it 6-0.
The German smashed one ace and 61 percent of the first serves, claiming nine of the 11 points on them. Becker’s most important weapon proved to be his returns, as he secured six of the nine on first and eight of the 10 points on
the second replies in the opener.
Herbert showed some resistance in the second set but it was not enough to win him more than two games, getting broken twice and dropping it 2-6.
Both players hit three aces but Herbert lagged behind in all the other statistics in the second set.
Becker will lock horns with fourth seed, Edouard Roger-Vasselin, for a place in the last four. Roger-Vasselin ousted Daniel Evans in the second round.
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