Nicolas Almagro eases past Federico Delbonis into quarterfinals – Copa Claro 2012
Defending Champion, Nicolas Almagro of Spain, came a step closer to retaining his title, as he brushed aside Federico Delbonis of Argentina in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 at the Copa Claro in Buenos Aires on Thursday. The top seed took only an hour and 13 minutes
to oust his opponent in a one-sided contest.
Almagro and Delbonis made a steady start, holding their serve in the first five games of the opening set and taking the score 3-2 in the Spaniard’s favour. Almagro succeeded in breaking the Argentinean in the sixth game and consolidated on it to claim a
5-2 lead. Delbonis’ serve was under threat again in the eighth game but he saved a break point to make the score 5-3. Though, he could not stop his opponent from serving out the set in the next game, losing 3-6.
The Spaniard fired three aces but managed to put in just 41 percent of the first deliveries. The 26-year-old converted most of his first serves, clinching nine of the eleven points on them in the opening set.
Almagro took the lead straightaway in the second set, breaking Delbonis in the first game and holding his serve in the next to go up 2-0. The Argentinean’s position was made worse when he dropped his serve again in the fifth game to trail 1-4. Almagro capitalised
on the double break of serve and sealed the set 6-2.
The Murcia, Spain resident almost matched his previous set’s service performance in the second. The 6ft tall player delivered three aces and captured 10 of the 11 points on the first serves. The one difference was that he also committed a double fault this
time. Almagro did not allow Delbonis any opportunity to break and won both of his own break points in the second set.
The defending champion, Almagro, defeated local favourite Juan Ignacio Chela in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the final to capture the Copa Claro title last year.
The Spaniard will face Russia’s Igor Andreev in the quarterfinals. The Russian upset Almagro’s compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the second round.
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