Nicolas Almagro battles past Carlos Berlocq into the quarterfinals of Open de Nice Côte d’Azur
Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, ranked 12th in the world, came back from one set down to beat world number 68 Carlos Berlocq of Argentina in three sets 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 in the second round of Open de Nice Côte d’Azur at the
Nice Lawn Tennis Club in Nice on Wednesday. It took the Spaniard two hours and 22 minutes to undo his opponent in a tough encounter.
Almagro took the lead straightaway as he broke Berlocq in the second game, going ahead 2-0. However, the Spaniard’s lead did not last for long as his opponent broke back in the very next game and held his serve in the fourth game
to equalize the score at 2-2. The next six games were held, levelling the score at 5-5. In the 11th game, Berlocq broke Almagro, getting a chance to serve out the set but he failed in doing so and took it to a tie-break. The Argentinean claimed
a late mini-break in the tie-break, capturing it 7-5.
Both players failed to impress with their serve as they had a low first serve percentage. Berlocq hit a mere 42 percent of the first serves in the opening set, claiming 67 percent of the points on them. In comparison, Almagro had
a slightly higher first serve percentage, delivering 48 percent of the first serves and winning 58 percent of the points on them in the first set. The Spaniard converted both break points he received but failed to save two of the three break points he faced
in the first set.
The second set went with serve until the ninth game when Berlocq’s serve was broken as he committed a double fault at break point. Almagro consolidated on the break of serve, clinching the set 6-4.
The Spaniard kept his first serve percentage at 55 percent and won an incredible 94 percent of the points on the first serve in the opening set. The six feet tall saved all the three break points he faced and capitalized on one
of the three break points on Berlocq’s serve in the second set.
Almagro looked a completely different player after winning the second set, knocking out his opponent in the deciding set. The Spaniard broke Berlocq twice to capture the final set 6-3.
Almagro’s serve was the main difference, firing two aces and 81 percent of the first serves in the third set. The right-handed clinched 82 percent of the first service points in the deciding set. The 25-year-old converted two of
the three break points on his opponent’s serve in the final set.
The Spaniard is drawn to face compatriot Pablo Andujar, ranked 50th in the world, in the quarterfinals. Andujar ousted world number 83 Julien Benneteau of France in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.
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