Rajeev Ram wins 2nd round qualifier against Prajnesh Gunneswaran – 2012 Chennai Open Recap
The second round qualifying matches of the 2012 Aircel Chennai Open took place on January 2, 2012 when India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran faced America’s Rajeev Ram.
The match proved to be a one sided affair as Ram won the match 6-3, 7-6(3).
In the first set, both players scored an ace each but their strengths and weaknesses came forward later in the match. Gunneswaran faced a single double fault while Ram had a flawless run with his unforced errors. Both players were equally matched when it
came to their first serve winning ratio. Gunneswaran won 47% points on first serve while Ram had a 45% rate.
Both players were playing with a consistent pace which was also evident through their points won on first serve. Gunneswaran won 62% points from his first serve and Ram was close behind by winning 60% points.
In terms of points won on second serve, Gunneswaran was way behind as he could only win 46% points but Ram was in the lead by winning 83% points. This was perhaps the deciding factor in the first set which propelled Ram into a lead. Ram was effective with
his serves for he did not concede any breakpoint and kept a steady run in the set.
On the other hand, Gunneswaran was able to save five out of the seven breakpoints he conceded. Gunneswaran could not take a decisive lead as he was overtaken by Ram by a mile as he won the first set 6-3.
As the second round progressed, Ram made sure he get a win as he scored six aces while his opponent could only score two and neither of the two players conceded any double faults. Ram kept his pressure upon Gunneswaran by securing a 77% first serve winning
ratio.
In terms of breakpoints saved, Gunneswaran was able to save 12 out of the 13 breakpoints he faced while Ram could save two out of the three he conceded. In the second set, Gunneswaran played well and kept an equal momentum as that of Ram.
The American player was again difficult to handle for Gunneswaran as the latter was unable to take any lead but could only watch Ram cruise further.
Ram, the 149th ranked singles player in the world barely won the second set as Gunneswaran, currently unranked in the world, came close in beating him. Gunneswaran manage to take the second set into a tie breaker but Ram won the tie breaker and the second
set 7-6 and entered the next level of the competition.
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