Olivier Rochus rallies past Andrej Martin into the second round – Slovak Open 2012 CH
World number 94, Olivier Rochus of Belgium, booked his place in the second round of the Slovak Open by ousting local player, Andrej Martin, in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) in his opening match in Bratislava.
Rochus and Martin held their opening serves to equalise the proceedings at 1-1. The Belgian player hit a blow to Martin in the third but the Slovakian did not take much time to break back and come on even terms. However, Rochus
made another breakthrough in the very next game and this time he won his following serve to gain a 4-2 lead. The Belgian contender sustained his lead till the end to claim it 6-4.
The little master neither hit any ace nor committed any double fault, putting in 69 percent of the first serves and converting 17 of the 27 of them into points. The 31-year-old inflicted most of the damage on Martin with the help
of his aggressive second returns, securing eight of the 11 points on them. The 5ft 6in tall out away five of the six break threats he came across and availed both opportunities he got in the opener.
Rochus and Martin kept the second set on serve in the first five games, taking the score to 3-2 in favour of the latter. The Slovakian participant stung a break in the sixth and made the most of that advantage to win 6-3.
Martin did a very good job on his first serves, banging in four aces and capturing 16 of the 19 points on them. The 23-year-old could not reply very well to Rochus’ first deliveries but managed to win seven of the 11 points on
the second ones. The right-hander saved both break points he faced in the second set.
In the decider, Martin and Rochus exchanged a lone strike in the first 12 games, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. Rochus grabbed a late mini-break and capitalised on it to triumph 7-6(5). The match lasted for
two hours and 21 minutes.
The Slovakian national will take on Czech Republic’s Jan Hajek in the second round.
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