Nicolas Mahut breezes past Guillermo Garcia-Lopez into the second round – AEGON Championships 2012
World number 65, Nicolas Mahut, did not face much difficulty in routing Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, ranked 93rd in the world, in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in the first round at the AEGON Championships in Queen’s Club,
London on Tuesday. The Frenchman needed only an hour and 16 minutes to undo the Spaniard in a one sided match.
Mahut moved ahead from the start of the match, as he broke Garcia-Lopez in the first game and consolidated on it to take a 2-0 lead. The French player did not allow his opponent to bounce back, sealing it 6-4.
The 30-year-old banged in a couple of aces and 60 percent of the first serves in the opener. His conversion rate was very impressive, as he pocketed 12 of the 15 first and eight of the 10 second delivery points. The Frenchman did
not come across any break threat and availed one of the three chances he had.
Just like the first set, Mahut struck in the opening game of the second and held his next serve to go up 2-0. The French contender snatched a break again in the fifth and made the most of his double advantage to capture it 6-2.
Mahut pounded three aces and did not commit any double fault, having a low first serve percentage of 45 but succeeding in claiming 11 of the 15 points on them. The Angers, France born also did a good job on the second deliveries
and returns, claiming 10 of the 18 points and four out of eight on them respectively. The Frenchman saved all the three break points he faced and converted two of the four he received in the second set.
The right-hander will play world number four, Andy Murray of Great Britain, in the second round.
When Mahut was asked about his chances against his next opponent, he confidently replied, "I beat Rafa once here. I was one point away to beat Roddick when he was Top 5. I know I can do well. I know I can beat top players on this
surface. I believe in me, I believe in my game. But I know it's a challenge to play against Top 4. I'll try. He's the favourite. I just have to come on the court and enjoy the crowd and enjoy the centre court and play my game."
This will be the third meeting between these two on the ATP World Tour. Murray leads 2-0 in the head to head record against Mahut.
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