Paolo Lorenzi overcomes Wayne Odesnik in the opening round – US Men’s Clay Court Championship 2012
World number 96, Paolo Lorenzi of Italy, bounced back after losing the first set to outlast 109th ranked, Wayne Odesnik of USA, 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-3 in the first round at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston on
Tuesday.
The Italian grabbed a break in the fifth game of the first set but could not consolidate on it, as he lost his serve immediately to square off the score at 3-3. Both players held in the next six games to take the score to 6-6,
forcing a tie-breaker. Odesnik lost just three points, claiming it 7-6(3).
The American fired a couple of aces and 61 percent of the first serves, claiming 18 of the 27 points on them in the opener. The Johannesburg, South Africa born made the most of his opponent’s weak second deliveries, as he won six
of the 10 points on them. Odesnik succeeded in saving four of the five break points he faced.
After dropping a tough first set, Lorenzi raised the level of his game in the second, as he broke Odesnik in the fourth game and held his next serve to race to a 4-1 lead. The Italian struck in the eighth to win 6-2.
The 30-year-old banged in three aces and kept his first serve percentage at 79, winning 15 of the 19 points on them. Lorenzi lost just two of the five points on the second serves and only one of the four on the returns. The Italian
put away both break threats he came across and availed two of the four of his opportunities in the second set.
Odesnik hit a blow in the opening game of the decider but lost his next serve, evening out the score at 1-1. Lorenzi made the decisive strike in the eighth game and closed it out at 6-3.
Both players pounded a single ace but Lorenzi put in 71 percent of the first serves compared to just 62 percent by Odesnik. The Italian snatched most of the points on the first deliveries and returns, winning 13 of the 20 and nine
of the 16 of them respectively.
Lorenzi required two hours and 45 minutes to come out victorious from a close match.
The Italian is drawn to face third seed, Feliciano Lopez of Spain, in the round of 16. The Spaniard, who is ranked 15th in the world, received a bye in the first round.
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