Rainer Schuettler prevails over Thomaz Bellucci in the opening round – Wimbledon Championships 2011
Germany’s Rainer Schuettler, ranked 113th in the world, defeated world number 28 Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club in London
on Monday. The German needed two hours and eleven minutes to undo his opponent.
In the opening set, Schuettler and Bellucci broke each other once, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-break. The German played well in the tie-break, claiming three mini-breaks and winning it 7-3.
Schuettler delivered 67 percent of the first serves and a single ace in the first set. The German hit five winners and committed nine unforced errors in the opening set. The 35-year-old made the difference with his accurate service
returns as he bagged 42 percent of the return points in the first set. Schuettler converted one of the four break points and succeeded in saving one of the two break points in the opening set.
The German took the early lead in the second set as he broke Bellucci in the third game and held his serve in the next game to take a 3-1 lead. The Brazilian bounced back and claimed next two games to level the score at 3-3. However,
Schuettler broke again in the ninth game, winning the set 6-4.
The five feet and eleven inches tall managed to hit only a single ace and 61 percent of the first deliveries in the second set. Schuettler did not hit any winner, committing one double fault and five unforced errors in the second
set. The German kept attacking his opponent’s second serve, winning 71 percent of the points on them. Schuettler clinched both break points he received and saved three of the four break points he faced in the second set.
After taking a two set lead, the German thrashed Bellucci in the third set, breaking the Brazilian twice and grabbing the set 6-2.
The veteran kept his first serve percentage at 67 percent, capturing 79 percent of the points on the first serve in the third set. The right-handed converted 52 percent of the returns into points in the third set. Schuettler committed
four unforced errors and won 71 percent of the second service points in the third set. Bellucci looked rusty as he made nine unforced errors and won just 50 percent of the first service points. The Brazilian claimed just 38 percent of the net approach points
in the third set. The 23-year-old failed to create any break point opportunity on Schuettler’s serve and failed in saving two of the four break points on his own serve in the third set.
Schuettler will take on Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, ranked 44th in the world, in the round of 64. Lopez overcame Michael Berrer of Germany in straight sets 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in the first round.
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