Radek Stepanek prevails over Michael Llodra in the final qualifier – Swiss Indoors Basel 2012
World number 36, Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic, advanced to the main draw by beating the 127th ranked player, France’s Michael Llodra, in straight sets 7-6(6), 6-3 in the final round of the qualifying draw at the
Swiss Indoors in Basel.
Stepanek took one hour and 45 minutes to clinch victory and throw the doubles specialist out of the singles event.
Llodra drew the first blood, as he struck in the second game to gain a 2-0 advantage. Stepanek broke back in the third to reduce the trail to 1-2 but he lost the following two and went down 1-4. However, the Frenchman grabbed three
games in a row to even out the proceedings at 4-4. There was no break of serve in the rest of the set, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. Llodra took a 2-0 lead at the start but his Czech opponent bounced back to level it a 2-2. They went on
equal terms till 6-6 but then Stepanek captured two in a row to seal it 7-6(6).
The Czech veteran banged in three aces but also committed a couple of double faults in the first set. The right-hander saved four of the six break points he faced and converted two of the eight he received.
Stepanek and Llodra won their serve in the first three games of the second set and took the score to 2-1 in favour of the former. The Czech number two stung a break in the fourth and consolidated on it to take a 4-1 lead. Stepanek
sustained his advantage till the end and grabbed it 6-3.
The 33-year-old matched his first set’s effort of three aces in the second one bit did not make any double fault this time. The Monte Carlo, Monaco resident had a brilliant conversion rate, securing 13 of the 14 first and seven
of the eight second delivery points. The 6ft 1in tall also gave a good showing on the second replies, as he pocketed six of the 11 points on them.
Stepanek is slated to face USA’s Brian Baker in the first round of the main draw.
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