Paolo Lorenzi, Facundo Bagnis through to the second qualifier – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
Paolo Lorenzi ousts Arnau Brugues-Davi 7-6(8), 6-3
Sixth seed, Paolo Lorenzi, prevailed over Arnau Brugues-Davi of Spain in straight sets 7-6(8), 6-3 in the first qualifier at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Monday. The Italian, Lorenzi, required two hours and 18 minutes to undo the world number 152.
Lorenzi and Brugues-Davi held their serve throughout the first set to equalise the score at 6-6 and force a tie-breaker. The Italian and Brugues-Davi fought fiercely but it was Lorenzi who grabbed two consecutive points in the end to seal it 7-6(8).
The right-hander had mixed serve performance, as he pounded six aces but also hit a couple of double faults. He pocketed an impressive 26 of the 33 first delivery points in the opener.
The Italian raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set. Brugues-Davi reduced the trail to 3-4 but Lorenzi struck again to capture it 6-3.
The 6ft tall continued to bombard his huge first serves in the second set, firing five aces and winning 13 of the 18 points on them.
Lorenzi is pitted against Roberto Bautista-Agut of Spain in the second round. The Spaniard upset 15th seed, Rik De Voest of South Africa, in the first match.
Facundo Bagnis stuns Eric Prodon 6-3, 6-3
Facundo Bagnis of Argentina upset seventh seed, Eric Prodon of France, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 to make it to the soencd round of the qualifying draw.
Bagnis made his intentions clear from the start of the match, breaking the Frenchman in the second game and following with a hold of serve to attain a 3-0 lead. The Argentinean kept his lead till the end and bagged it 6-3.
The 22-year-old banged in a couple of aces and 57 percent of the first serves. Bagnis had an extraordinary conversion rate, as he captured 12 of the 13 first and eight of the 10 second delivery points. The Argentinean did not provide his opponent any break opportunity and utilised one of the three of his own.
Bagnis and Prodon exchanged a strike in the first four games of the second set, levelling the score at 2-2. The Argentinean then made double breakthrough to clinch it 6-3.
The lefty did quite well on the return play, grabbing 10 of the 21 first and 12 of the 22 second reply points.
Bagnis is drawn to face Frenchman Guillaume Rufin in the next match. Rufin surprised 18th seed, Horacio Zeballos of Argentina, in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 in the second round.
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