Nikola Ciric prevails over Andreas Beck to reach last four – BNP Paribas Polish Open 2011 CH
World number 177 Nikola Ciric of Serbia came back after losing the first set to rally past German Andreas Beck, ranked 140th in the world, in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Polish Open
in Sopot, Poland on Friday. The Serbian needed an hour and 53 minutes to beat his opponent in a tough encounter.
Ciric and Beck were unable to break other’s serve in the first seven games, taking the score to 4-3 in favour of the latter. The German broke Ciric in the eighth game and consolidated on it to claim the set 6-3.
The six feet and three inches tall delivered 67 percent of the first serves and one ace in the first set. Beck had an amazing service conversion rate, converting 93 percent of the first serves into points and an incredible 100
percent of the second serves into points in the opening set. The German performed well in all aspects as he also won 38 percent of the first return points compared to just 7 percent by Ciric. The 25-year-old won the only break point he received in the first
set.
After losing the opening set, Ciric raised the level of his game as he broke the German in the sixth game and held his serve in the next game to grab a 5-2 lead. The Serbian served out the set in the next game, grabbing it 6-3.
Ciric fired six aces and 70 percent of the first deliveries, converting 81 percent of them into points in the second set. The Serbian and his opponent had an erratic second serve as both of them committed three double faults. However,
Ciric returned better, clinching eight of the 23 first return points in the second set. The unseeded capitalised on one of the three break point chances he created and saved the one break point he faced in the second set.
With winning momentum on his side, Ciric played even better in the deciding set. The Serbian broke Beck in the third and fifth game and won all of his own service games to win the set 6-2.
The 27-year-old kept winning points with the help of his big first serves. Ciric bagged thirteen of the sixteen first service points in the third set. The Serbian won two of the three break points he received on Beck’s serve and
saved both of the break points on his own serve in the deciding set.
Ciric will take on world number 112 Marc Gicquel of France in the semi-finals.
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