Rajeev Ram rallies past Lleyton Hewitt into the quarterfinals – Atlanta Tennis Championships 2011
Local qualifier Rajeev Ram, ranked 272nd in the world, survived bashing in the second set to overcome former world number 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in three sets 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in the second round at the Atlanta Tennis Championships on Thursday. The American needed an hour and 58 minutes to oust his opponent in a tough match.
Ram drew the first blood as he broke the Australian in the fourth game of the first set and consolidated on it, taking a 4-1 lead. Hewitt broke back in the ninth game and held his next service game to level the score at 5-5. The American broke his opponent again at 5-6 and won the set 7-5.
The right-handed delivered 62 percent of the first serves and a couple of aces in the opening set. Ram captured 78 percent of the first service points and 55 percent of the second service points in the first set. The American and Hewitt served erratically, committing three and four double faults respectively. Ram could not save the only break point he faced on his own serve and capitalised on both break points he received on Hewitt’s serve in the opening set.
Hewitt came roaring into the second set as he broke the American in the first and third game, blazing forward to a 4-0 lead. Ram avoided a bagel set, holding his serve in the fifth game and breaking the Australian in the sixth game to reduce the trail to 2-4. Hewitt, however, was ruthless as he broke the American once again in the seventh game and served out the set at 5-2.
The Australian kept his first serve percentage at 55 percent and hit one ace in the second set. Hewitt won an incredible 91 percent of the first service points. The right-handed also sealed 33 percent of the points on the first returns. The Australian failed to save the one break point he faced but won three of the six break points on Ram’s serve in the second set.
After getting the thrashing in the second set, Ram bounced back to break the Australian twice in the final set, clinching it 6-2.
The American fired four aces and 64 percent of the first deliveries, clinching twelve of the fourteen first service points in the deciding set. The six feet and four inches tall converted two of the seven break points on the Australian’s serve in the third set.
Ram will play compatriot Ryan Harrison, ranked 120th in the world, in the quarterfinals.
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