Rajeev Ram jolts down Matthias Bachinger to enter the main draw – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
Local star, Rajeev Ram, surprised everyone after upsetting the fourth seed, Matthias Bachinger, in straight sets at the Sony Ericsson Open 2012, a Masters 1000 event taking place on the hard courts in Miami, Florida. He manipulated a 6-2, 6-4 victory over
the world number 99 to secure a place in the opening round on Tuesday night.
Ram showed tremendous skills to not only stun the German but also found the track to grab his second ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) career title at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. He got the better of the fourth seed by capitalising on three
out of four break chances in 66 minutes.
Ranked 144th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Ram outshined his rival completely in the opening set. After Bachinger held his serve in the first game, the American blasted forehands to wipe out the following three games successively
before the German could hold on again. He maintained his intensity after that and pocketed the last three games, ultimately registering a 6-2 success.
The 28-year-old kept his spark lit in the following set and plucked entire serves without facing any breakpoint. He got the breakthrough by cashing in the only break chance in the seventh game, subsequently sealing the set with a 6-4 score line.
Overall, the American dominated throughout the set as he smacked six aces and formulated a higher first serve share of 65 per cent as compared to Bachinger’s 55 per cent. He also superbly availed 28 out of 31 points on it and had a much better return point
winning share.
The beaming American will square off against the Spanish contestant, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who also booked this spot after overpowering his opponent earlier that day. The qualifying third seed warded off early resistance to manipulate a 7-6(1), 6-4 score
line against the local star, Bobby Reynolds, in almost two hours.
82nd ranked Garcia-Lopez lost his serve once but converted two out of four break opportunities to his advantage. He committed more unforced errors but brilliantly clinched 35 out of 45 points on his first serve share.
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