Nicolas Devilder through to the third round qualifier of the Grand Prix Hassan II
French Nicolas Devilder, ranked 377th in the world, fought back from one set down to beat world number 151 Daniel Munoz De La Nava of Spain 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of the qualifying draw at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca on Sunday.
Munoz De La Nava needed a single break of serve in the opening set, winning it 6-4. The Spanish kept his first serve percentage at 45 per cent and won 73 per cent of the points on his first serve. In comparison, Devilder delivered 71 per cent of the first serves, winning 59 per cent of the points on them in the first set.
After losing the opening set, Devilder came back in the match as he broke his opponent in the fifth and seventh game of the second set to win it 6-3.
The French fired in two aces and 76 per cent of the first serves in the second set. Devilder converted 73 per cent of his first serves into points in the second set. The 31-year-old won one of the three break points he received in the second set.
Devilder carried the winning momentum into the third set, breaking Munoz De La Nava in the first and seventh game to win the deciding set 6-2.
The French delivered a single ace and 71 per cent of the first serves, winning 76 per cent of the points on them in the final set. On the other hand, his opponent hit just 40 per cent of the first serves and converted 67 per cent of them into points. The Spanish saved three of the five break points he faced in the third set. The left-handed could not capitalize on the only break point he received in the deciding set. The match lasted for 2 hours and 26 minutes.
Devilder is appearing at the Grand Prix Hassan II for the third time in his career. The French was defeated by Argentinean Jose Acasuso, ranked 37th at that time, in straight sets 4-6, 4-6 in the opening round in 2007. After a gap of two years, the five feet eight inch tall managed to qualify for the round of 16 as he defeated Daniel Koellerer of Austria in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the first round. In the next match, the French played incredibly well against the then world number 22, Russian Igor Andreev. However, Devilder lost to Andreev in three thrilling sets 7-6(11), 6-7(5), 4-6 in the second round match.
The French is drawn to meet world number 250 Alexander Peya of Austria in the third round of the qualifying draw. The Austrian defeated world number 167 Peter Luczak of Australia in three sets 7-6(7), 0-6, 6-2 in the second round.
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