Raven Klaasen edges past Michael Ryderstedt into quarterfinals – Wuhai Challenger 2011
In a surprising turn of events at Wuhai, China South African Raven Klaasen obliterated his opponent Michael Ryderstedt, seeded at No. 7 in the tournament, in a swiftly executed two straight sets 6-3, 6-4 win. Getting a foothold
early on in the 73 minutes long match, Klaasen made the match everything but easy for his more experienced opponent. Thursday’s win at the ATP China International Challenger 2011 ensures Klaasen a coveted place amongst the top 8 of the tournament.
Critics’ favourite, Swede Ryderstedt has had a good season so far and has a current win-loss mark of 2-3. He surprised his home crowd at the Swedish Open 2011, Bastad by winning against Maximo Gonzalez and Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo
en route to a place in the quarter finals which he lost to eventual semi finalist Nicolas Almagro. Ryderstedt unfortunately could not reproduce that performance in China. Klaasen meanwhile is a Challenger circuit regular and come into the tournament with a
career win-loss standing of 7-4. He clocked in his best performance of the season at the Uzbekistan Futures event, where he emerged as the winner in the final against Mikhail Vasiliev. Klaasen had previously routed Chinese wild card Yang Lu in his opening
round match.
This match is the first between the two players.
Klaasen served the opening game of the first set and quickly set the tone for things to come by breaking Ryderstedt’s serve in the very next game, limiting him to 30 points in that game. Serving at 61%, Klaasen managed to win 86%
first serve points of these serves. The two players each fired two aces past one another but Ryderstedt’s 2 double faults rendered his useless. Klaasen easily got hold of the set 6-3 and did not face even a single breakpoint situation.
The second set followed suit and closed 6-4 in a triumphant Klaasen’s account. A massive 10 serves were registered in this set, 5 by each player but it was Klaasen’s well timed serve break in the second last game ensured that Ryderstedt
could never catch up.
Klaasen’s quarter final showdown is set against third seed Israeli Amir Weintraub. Amir had secured an easy two set win over his opponent in his opening round match of the main draws.
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