Ricardas Berankis stuns Tommy Haas to enter round quarters – US Men’s Clay Court Championships 2013
Lithuanian rising star, Ricardas Berankis, upset the former world number two, Tommy Haas, in straight sets at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships 2013 on Thursday. He notched up a 6-3, 6-3 victory against the German veteran to power into the final eight
at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event taking place in Houston, United States of America.
The Lithuanian youngster displayed tremendous skills to outclass second seeded Haas in their first encounter. As a result, Berankis comfortably secured a place in the last eight at this clay court event.
“I think I had the advantage because for me it was the second match,” said the booming Lithuanian. “For the first clay-court matches it’s a big advantage. I used it well to get my rhythm.”
Berankis made a thunderous entry into this match. He drew the first blood in the opening game and jumped to a 2-0 lead. The Lithuanian dropped his serve in the fourth game but got the upper hand again in the very next game. He then held his composure and
after cashing another break chance in the last game, the Lithuanian clicked the opener with a 6-3 win.
Ranked 73rd in the Emirates Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Berankis kept momentum rolling in the proceeding set. He swiftly bagged his entire serves without facing many hindrances. The Lithuanian got the breakthrough in the sixth game and eventually
clinched the set with a 6-3 score line.
The seed was coming from a semi-final showdown at the Sony Open Tennis where he lost to David Ferrer. This was his second opening round exit this circuit.
“It started off pretty weird and it didn’t really give me that much confidence for the rest of the match,” Haas was quoted in a courtside interview after bowing out to the Lithuanian. “I felt if I could’ve held serve in the first game then things would’ve
been a little different.”
The Lithuanian will face off fifth seeded John Isner in the quarter-finals. The returning finalist battled past his wild card compatriot, Jack Sock, in three sets to set-up this encounter. He recorded a 7-5, 6-7(3), 7-6(3) score line against the wild card
entrant and progressed into this match.
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