Philipp Kohlschreiber defeats Denis Gremelmayr in the second round of BMW Open
Former champion Philipp Kohlschreiber, ranked 42nd in the world, cruised past his compatriot Denis Gremelmayr, ranked 105th in the world, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of the BMW Open at the
Iphitos Tennis Club in Munich on Thursday. Kohlschreiber needed only one hour and nine minutes to oust his opponent.
The German broke Gremelmayr once in the opening set, winning it 6-3. Kohlschreiber hit a single ace and 69 percent of the first serves in the opening set, converting 85 percent of them into points. The 27-year-old won 23 percent
of the first return points in the first set. On the other hand, Gremelmayr fired four aces and 68 percent of the first serves. The 29-year-old claimed 77 percent of the first service points in the opening set. The German failed to save the only break point
he faced in the first set.
In the second set, Kohlschreiber broke Gremelmayr in the third game and held his serve in the next game to take a 3-1 lead. The right-handed broke again in the ninth game, claiming the set 6-3.
The German delivered a single ace and 66 percent of the first serves in the second set. Kohlschreiber clinched 79 percent of the first service points in the second set. In comparison, Gremelmayr fired four aces and 56 percent of
the first serves, winning 67 percent of the points on them. The left-handed managed to save three of the five break points he faced in the second set. Kohlschreiber successfully saved all the three break points in the second set.
The German said, talking to the reporters after the match, "It’s never really easy to play against another German, but I think was really focussed in the match. I made a solid start and just the few chances I got I really took
them. I think that was maybe the difference today."
With this win, Kohlschreiber improved his win/loss record to 12-6 at the BMW Open. The German made his debut here in 2002, losing to Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 5-7 in the first round. The five feet 10 inches
tall was beaten by Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-7(4), 2-6 in the second round in 2004. Showing his best result at this event in 2007, Kohlschreiber stunned Russian Mikhail Youzhny, ranked 17th at that time, in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the title match.
In his last appearance here, the German was defeated by Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in straight sets 3-6, 4-6 in the quarterfinals in 2010.
Kohlschreiber will take on Czech Radek Stepanek, ranked 67th in the world, in the quarterfinals.
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