Nicolas Almagro trounces over Santiago Giraldo in the second round – Heineken Open 2012
Second seed Nicolas Almagro eased past Colombian Santiago Giraldo in straight sets at the Heineken Open 2012 on Wednesday. He clobbered a 6-4, 6-2 victory over the Pereira-born Giraldo to book a quarter-final spot at this Australian Open build-up tournament
taking place in Auckland, New Zealand.
Battling each other for the third time, world number 10 Almagro maintained his winning record against the Colombian in an hour and eight minutes long marathon at the ASB Tennis Centre. He not only extended his lead in the head-to-head series by 3-0 against
Giraldo but also inched closer to the $436,000 prize money. The Spaniard has now secured a final eight spot where eighth seeded German, Philipp Kohlschreiber, is awaiting for him.
The higher ranked Spaniard confidently entered the opening set and through blistering forehands and backhands, he pocketed entire serves without facing any breakpoint. Almagro capitalised on a break opportunity in the ninth game and clinched the opener with
a 6-4 score line. He smacked six aces and produced a higher first serve share of 67 percent as compared to the Colombian’s 62 percent. The Spaniard also clinched magnificent 13 out of 16 points on it and dominated throughout the set.
After Giraldo kept his serve in the opening game, the top tenner went on a five games rampage before the Colombian could hold on again. Almagro held his serve once more in the eighth game and bagged the set with a 6-2 victory. He manifested a much better
first serve share once again and scored a perfect 11 out of 11 points on it. The Spaniard spiced the set further by hitting five aces and committing no double faults.
The German seed, who advanced into the last eight in the morning match, made a comeback from a set down against the American wild card entrant Ryan Harrison. Kohlschreiber earned a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over the 19-year-old American in almost two hours in
their first meeting.
Colombia’s Alejandro Falla faced a better fate than his compatriot, Giraldo. He warded off early resistance to earn a straight set victory over the Italian Potito Starace in 80 minutes.
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