Rajeev Ram eases past Marcel Zimmermann into semi-final – Ortisei Challenger 2011
American Rajeev Ram slammed German Marcel Zimmermann in the quarter-final battle of Ortisei Challenger tournament, contested in Italy. On Friday November 11th, both players faced each other for the first time in their
careers and lasted for an hour and nine minutes; it was a one-sided battle that was completely hijacked by the American who cruised into the last four with a straight set 6-4, 6-4 triumph.
The match was played on carpet courts at Bross Slides Ortisei Italy. Sizeable crowd gathered to witness this encounter and expected it to be an epic three-setter provided the scenario and form of both players in this tournament.
Zimmermann had lost two while his opponent had lost just one match in their last nine encounters but provided superior ranking of Ram, it was clear that he will rule the show and clinch an easy win. It exactly went like that and
American didn’t have to put in a lot of effort to place a berth in the semi-final draws.
German had defeated third seed Adrian Ungur in the last round match and Ram had also two major upsets under his belt. Both players were fired up at the start of the match to move into the last four but American was more calm and
composed, held his nerves at crucial stages and clinched an easy straight set victory.
Both players started it slowly and first four games saw no major tragedies for either of the two contestants; four aces were struck by both players in their two serve games. Zimmermann double-faulted twice in the fifth game and
handed a break to his opponent who didn’t made any mistake in accepting that gift and took two game lead, pushed the score to 4-2.
Zimmermann couldn’t break back to level the score and lost the game but not before he smashed six thumping aces in the set and looked strong other than that slipup in the form of double-faults. Ram was lucky to clinch the first
set.
Second set started in the same fashion as the first and exactly in the fifth game Ram broke again to take the lead. The whole set was exact carbon copy of the first and again German couldn’t break his rival’s serve to level the
score and bring some energy into the game and divert its expected result in his favour.
Rajeev Ram won the second set as well and moves into the semis where he squares-off against Russian Konstantin Kravchuk.
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