Paolo Lorenzi edges past Simone Vagnozzi into the semi-finals – Carisap Tennis Cup 2011
World number 122 Paolo Lorenzi of Italy bounced back after dropping the first set to overcome compatriot Simone Vagnozzi, ranked 199th in the world, in three sets 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of Carisap Tennis
Cup at the clay courts of San Benedetto del Tronto in Italy on Thursday. The match lasted for two hours and 21 minutes.
Vagnozzi and Lorenzi exchanged one break of serve in the first eleven games of the opening set, taking the score to 6-5 in favour of the former. Vagnozzi broke his opponent again in the twelfth game to clinch the set 7-5.
The Italian delivered 66 percent of the first serves and converted 61 percent of them into points in the first set. In comparison, Lorenzi had a lower first serve percentage, hitting 61 percent of the first serves but the Italian
managed to win 70 percent of the first service points. The six feet tall grabbed 39 percent of the first return points compared to 30 percent by his opponent. However, Lorenzi lost both break points he faced and could not convert seven of the eight break points
he received on Vagnozzi’s serve in the first set.
Vagnozzi carried the winning momentum into the second set and broke his countryman in the second game, claiming first two games to take a 2-0 lead. However, Lorenzi fought back and captured four successive games, breaking Vagnozzi
in the third and fifth game to take a 4-2 lead. The Italian served out the set in the tenth game, clinching it 6-4.
Lorenzi had a satisfactory service performance as he kept his first serve percentage at 70 percent, winning 62 percent of the points on the first serve in the second set. The Italian made difference with his powerful returns, claiming
a whopping 43 percent of the first return points. The 29-year-old won two of the four break points he received and saved two of the three break points on his own serve in the second set.
After levelling the score at one set apiece, Lorenzi thrashed his countryman as he allowed him to win only one game, sealing the set 6-1.
The Siena resident bombarded his opponent with powerful returns as he won an amazing 55 percent of the points on them. The right-handed capitalised on both break point opportunities he created on Vagnozzi’s serve in the final set.
Lorenzi is slated to face another compatriot Stefano Galvani, ranked 250th in the world, in the semi-finals.
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