Pablo Andujar downs Bernard Tomic in Miami
The 25-year-old Spanish Pablo Andujar defeated the 18-year-old Australian wild card Bernard Tomic 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in nail biter match on Wednesday to advance at the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open.
Ranked 69th in the world, Andujar destroyed the youngster’s dream and advanced in this ATP World Tour 1000 event. He is eyeing his first title this season after his disappointing performance in previous events. He exited
from the first round at Buenos Aeries, Acapulco, Indian Wells and the Australian Open.
Both players were in their good form and played with their exceptional skills. They held their opening serve convincingly and were playing with their full concentration. Both stars exchanged breaks early in the set and made the
match more interesting. However, Andujar edged over the Australian by converting his second breakpoint opportunity to his advantage as well. Andujar’s performance was not up to the mark as he double faulted twice and had a lower first serve share of 56 percent
as compared to Australian’s 62 percent. However he still managed to clinch 6-4 by earning two breaks and registering an impressive 73 percent win on his first serve.
The frustrated Australian, who made a semi-final berth at Burnie Challenger and reached the final at Caloundra Challenger before losing to 5th seeded Slovakian Grega Zemlja earlier this season, re-focused in the second
set. The youngster smashed two ferocious aces, had a higher first serve percentage of 59 percent as opposed to Andujar’s 48 percent and earned a convincing 64 percent win on it. Tomic also saved two out of four breakpoints and converted three out of five breakpoint
opportunities to his advantage to win the equalizer set 6-3.
Tomic carried his winning ways in the final set and held his opening serve. He fired two aces, had a much better first serve percentage of 61 percent as opposed to Spaniard’s 45 percent and registered a spectacular 75 percent win
on it. The Australian also saved a break point and broke Andujar’s serve once. The Spaniard on the other hand double faulted four times and played with less concentration. However, Andujar saved three out of four break points and snatched the break back in
early games. He held his serve in the 11th game and took the lead 6-5. Later he broke Tomic’s serve in the next game to clinch the set 7-5.
Andujar will next face his 9th seed countryman Fernando Verdasco who reached this spot directly. Ranked 9th in the world, Spaniard is in good shape and recently reached the final at San Jose before losing
to rising star Canadian Milos Raonic.
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