Rajeev Ram bulldozes Christopher Rungkat in the round two – KEIO Challenger 2012
Seeded second in the draw, USA’s Rajeev Ram did not face much resistance in downing the world number 290, Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia, in the second round of the KEIO Challenger in Yokohama, Japan on Thursday.
Ram dropped just six games in the entire contest, winning it in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and eight minutes and reaching the last-eight stage.
The American contestant came flying in the match, as he grabbed first four games to race to a 4-0 lead. Rungkat had taken a 40-15 lead in the opening one but he lost four straight points. However, Ram maintained his lead till the
end and closed it 6-2.
Ranked 134th in the world, the American contestant served superbly, bombarding six aces on Rungkat and clinching 10 of the 12 points on the first serves. The 6ft 4in tall also gave a very good performance on the second
deliveries and returns, as he grabbed seven of the 11 and six of the eight points on them respectively. The right-hander did not come across any break point and availed both chances he received in the opener.
Started of the second set was steadier as compared to the first one, as Ram and Rungkat held their serve in the opening four games to square off the proceedings at 2-2. The American player stung a break in the fifth and consolidated
on it to take a 4-2 lead. Rungkat could not stage a comeback and threw away the second set 4-6.
Ram matched his performance of six aces and this time he further improved his first serve conversion rate, winning 14 of the 15 points. Although, his performance on the second deliveries and returns came down slightly, claiming
seven of the 12 and seven of the 13 points on them respectively. The American national saved the only break point he faced and converted one of the three he received in the second set.
The right-hander will play the world number 336, Mirza Basic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the last-eight stage. Mirza beat Japan’s Shuichi Sekiguchi in straight sets in the second round.
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