Paes/Stepanek ousts Cabal/Schwank to reach quarters – Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012
Fifth seeds, India’s Leander Paes and Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek, outshined the Colombian-Argentinean team, Juan Sebastian Cabal and Eduardo Schwank, in straight sets at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012 on Thursday. They joggled up a 6-3, 6-3 victory
against their opponents to power into the quarter-finals at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour Masters 1000 event held in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
The in-form combination of Paes and Stepanek outclassed their unseeded rivals in 68 minutes at this clay court event. As a result, the Indian-Czech tandem assertively advanced into the final eight.
Paes and Stepanek high-spiritedly entered the Monte Carlo Country Club and held their serve in the second game to level the scores at 1-1. They remained focused throughout the game and carved out the desiderated break in the fifth game to take the lead for
the first time in the match. The Indian-Czech junction held their composure and not only swiped in remaining serves but cashed in another break chance in the last game to seal the opener by winning six games to three.
The high flying collaboration kept momentum rolling into the proceeding game and earned the critical break in the second game to jump to a 2-0 lead. Apart from losing their edge in the very next game, Paes and Stepanek continued hammering powerful groundstrokes
to keep their remaining serves with poise. They got the breakthrough in the sixth game and clinched the set with a 6-3 score line.
All in all, the Indian-Czech pair manipulated a lower first serve share of 69 per cent as opposed to their rivals’ 74 per cent but magnificently marked 26 out of 33 points on it. They failed to ward off the lone breakpoint they faced but cashed in half of
the eight break opportunities to earn the fame.
The Paes-Stepanek pair will next confront the top seeded Americans, Bob and Mike Bryan, who eased past the British Murray brothers, Andy and Jamie, in straight sets to set-up this meeting. The American twins lost their serve four times but capitalised on
six out of nine break chances to manipulate a 7-5, 6-4 success.
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