Potito Starace stomps over Roberto Bautista-Agut in round one – Grand Prix Hassan II 2012
Italian star, Potito Starace, edged past the Spanish qualifier, Roberto Bautista-Agut, in straight sets at the Grand Prix Hassan II 2012 on Tuesday. He summed up a 6-4, 7-5 victory against the world number 152 to power into the second round at this ATP (Association
of Tennis Professionals) clay court event held in Morocco.
Starace took down the 23-year-old in a span of one hour and 54 minutes at the Complexe Al Amal. Encountering each other for the first time, the Italian assertively advanced into the round of 16 and took lead in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series by 1-0 against
Bautista-Agut.
The Italian veteran made a shaky start at this ATP World Tour 250 series event and after suffering the first blow in the fourth game, he trailed at 1-3. However, Starace made a stunning reply and went on a five-game killing spree before the Spaniard could
hold on again. The Italian swiped in his serve once more and clinched the opener with a 6-4 score line.
Ranked 83rd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Starace carried his rhythm in the second set and after breaking the Spaniard’s serve in the third game, he leaped to a 3-1 lead. Regardless of losing his serve in the eighth game,
the Italian capitalised on another break chance in the eleventh game, subsequently sealing the set with a 7-5 win.
All in all, the 30-year-old spilled more double faults but produced a better first serve share of 72 per cent as compared to Bautista-Agut’s 60 per cent. He also clicked 39 out of 61 points on it and conquered the match by cashing in four out of 11 break
chances.
Starace will square off against the third seed, Pablo Andujar, who received a first round bye after being a top four player at this event.
The French contestant, Jeremy Chardy, also progressed at this event after dumping a qualifier. 64th ranked Chardy brushed off eight out of nine breakpoints he came across and capitalised on three out of four break opportunities to seal the deal
with a 6-4, 7-5 score line.
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