Motti/Zemlja, Begemann/ Kudryavtsev move into second round – Eckental Challenger 2011
On November 1, 2011, men’s doubles matches at the 2011 Eckental Challenger featured the team of Dustin Brown (Germany) and Rajeev Ram (USA) play their match against Alessandro Motti (Italy) and Grega Zemlja (Slovenia).
The German/American team was not successful in securing a win as the team of Motti/ Zemlja won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Both the teams were playing each other for the first time where the team of Brown/Ram was looking uneasy as the match progressed. It was evident that Motti/Zemlja were intimidating their opponents as they gave them no room to score points with ease.
In the first set, Brown/Ram had a 68% first serve winning ratio, which was quite lower than the ratio their opponents had with 75%. As far as the breakpoints are concerned, Brown/Ram could save one of their two breakpoints while Motti/Zemlja saved both.
With five aces in the first set, Motti/Zemlja were looking a composed team as they played with a bond which was evident throughout the match. In the second set, both the teams were trying to win the set for they both scored three aces and did not concede any
double fault. The first serve winning ratio of both the teams was also nearly equal as Brown/Zemlja had a 70% winning ratio on first serves while Motti/Zemlja secured a 76% rate.
Going into the second set, Brown/Zemlja saved one of their two breakpoints while their opponents did all in their power not to concede any breakpoint, which showed they were playing sensible shots, giving them the points and preventing their opponents to score.
The men’s doubles matches continued later in the day when the German team of Jan-Lennard Struff and Marcel Zimmermann faced Andre Begemann (Germany) and Alexandre Kudryavtsev (Russia). The pair of Begeman/ Kudryavtsev won the match 3-6, 6-2, 15-13.
During the match, both the teams were playing decent shots and it was a rather evenly contested match. The Germans conceded two double faults in the first set, while their opponents had none. The first set went to the Germans as they had a higher first serve
winning ratio with 66% and saved both of their breakpoints.
In the second set, the team of Begemann/ Kudryavtsev started their counter attack. Although they were unable to score any ace, they did have a higher first serve winning rate and also saved 80% of their breakpoints.
Their German opponents conceded three double faults, which held them back in the second set in winning games. With both the teams winning one set each, the third set was the decider.
Entering the third set, none of the two teams scored an ace but Begemann/ Kudryavtsev did concede two double faults. The teams were looking for a two-point lead to enter the next round. The German’s were closing in to their win but Begemann/ Kudryavtsev contained
their opponents to 13 points as they scored 15 to win the match.
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