Nicolas Mahut crushes Sebastian Decoud in the first round – Hall of Fame Championships 2011
World number 95 Nicolas Mahut of France humiliated Argentinean Sebastian Decoud, ranked 215th in the world, in straight sets in the opening round at the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport on Tuesday.
The French allowed his opponent to claim only a single game, winning the match 6-1, 6-0 in just 51 minutes.
Mahut took the lead straightaway as he broke the Argentinean in the second game of the first set and held his next service game, blazing forward to a 3-0 lead. Decoud opened his account, holding his serve in the fourth game and
reducing Mahut’s lead to 3-1. The French grabbed three straight games after that as he broke the Argentinean in the sixth game to win the set 6-1.
The Angers, France born had an average first serve percentage as he delivered 52 percent of the first serves but he impressed with the conversion rate, converting 91 percent of the first serves into points in the opening set. Mahut
also fired five aces and hit two double faults. The French returned brilliantly as he grabbed an amazing 60 percent of the first return points in the first set. The right-handed converted two of the five break point opportunities he created on Decoud’s serve
and saved the only break point he faced on his own serve in the opening set.
After winning the first set easily, Mahut was almost flawless as he did not drop even a single game in the second set, clinching six consecutive games and breaking his opponent three times to win the set 6-0.
The French hit 69 percent of the first serves and three aces in the second set. Just like the first set, Mahut had an incredible conversion rate as he claimed 89 percent of the first service points and 100 percent of the second
service points in the second set. The six feet and three inches tall continued to pound his opponent with aggressive returns, winning an incredible 67 percent of the first return points. The French converted three of the six break points he received on the
Argentinean’s serve in the second set.
Talking to the reporters after the match, Mahut said, “It’s always good to have this kind of first round because I know already the second one will be a different story. I have to play against Olivier [Rochus], who played the final
last year, and he’s really comfortable on this grass. The bounce is very low; it’s perfect for him.”
The French will face sixth seed Olivier Rochus of Belgium in the second round.
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