Raven Klaasen, Donald Young reach second round of BNP Paribas Open 2011 qualifiers
Raven Klaasen defeats Matteo Viola 5-7, 6-1, 7-6
Raven Klaasen of South Africa ousted Matteo Viola of Italy in three sets 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 in the first round of the qualifying draw at the BNP Paribas Open 2011 on Tuesday. The South African took a little over 2 hours to win the match.
In the opening set, Viola broke Klaasen in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead. In the next game, he successfully held his serve, winning the set 7-5.
After losing the opening set, Klaasen fought back and outclassed his opponent in the second set, winning it 6-1. The South African broke Viola twice in the set and saved the only break point he faced.
Klaasen and Viola went neck-to-neck in the final set, taking it to a tiebreak. The South African got the mini-break late in the tiebreak, winning it 7-5.
The 28-year-old hit 61 per cent of the first serves in the match, winning 60 per cent of the points on them. In comparison, his opponent hit 58 per cent of the first serves, winning 73 per cent of the points on them.
Klaasen will face world number 131 Marinko Matosevic of Australia in the second round. The Australian cruised past Dusan Vemic of Serbia in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 in the opening round.
Donald Young beats Denis Kudla 6-2, 7-6
World number 143 Donald Young of US defeated his compatriot, world number 460 Denis Kudla in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 to move to the second round of the qualifying draw.
Young played aggressively in the first set, hitting forehand winners on crucial points. He broke his rival twice in the opening set, winning it 6-2.
The 21-year-old hit a single ace and 42 per cent of the first serves in the first set. He also converted the two break points he received. On the other hand, Kudla failed to win the only break point he received in the opening set.
The two players broke each other’s serve twice in the second set. The set went to a tiebreak as the set score was tied at 6-6. Young served brilliantly in the tiebreak and won a couple of points on his first serve, winning the tiebreak 7-4 and with it, the match.
The American saved 5 of the 7 break points he faced in the second set. In comparison, his opponent saved 3 of the 5 break points. The match lasted for 1 hour and 22 minutes.
Young is slated to face Rudolf Siwy of Czech Republic in the next round. Siwy qualified for the second round as his opponent Rajeev Ram of US retired at the end of the first set due to an injury. The Czech had won the opening set 6-4.
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