Philipp Oswald overcomes Daniel Brands in the first round – Bet-at-home Cup 2012
Local qualifier, Philipp Oswald, took complete advantage of the home support and conditions, as he stunned the 119th ranked German player, Daniel Brands, in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round of the Bet-at-home
Cup in Kitzbuhel, Austria on Tuesday.
Oswald and Brands held their serve in the opening four games to level the score at 2-2. The German snatched a break in the fifth and consolidated on it to grab a 4-2 lead. Brands did not allow the Austrian to make a comeback, successfully
serving it out at 5-4.
The German participant lagged behind Oswald in most departments of the game, hitting only one ace and committing three double faults compared to five and two by the Austrian. The 25-year-old managed to keep his first serve percentage
at merely 66, converting 16 of the 19 of them into points. The 6ft 5in tall did not give any break opportunity to his opponent and availed one of the two of his own chances in the opener.
Oswald made a positive start in the second set, securing a breakthrough in the fourth game and winning his next serve to race to a 4-1 advantage. Brands dropped his serve again when he tried to stay in the set, losing it 2-6.
The Austrian pounded five aces but also committed four double faults in the second set. The right-hander had an average first serve percentage of 61 but his conversion rate was up to the mark, as he pocketed 12 of the 14 points
on them.
In the decider, Oswald and Brands held their serve in the first three games to take the score to 2-1 in favour of the former. The Austrian hit a blow to his opponent in the fourth and captured his subsequent serve to go up 4-1.
Oswald managed to sustain his lead till the end, closing it 6-3.
The Austrian player gave his best performance on the first serves once again, converting 16 of the 19 of them into points. Both contenders banged in three aces but Brands also made the equal number of double faults compared to
only one by Oswald. The Austrian converted one of the two break points he received in the final set.
Oswald required one hour and 45 minutes in completing this closely contested win over his German rival.
The Austrian will play the third seed, Robin Haase of the Netherlands, in the second round.
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