Robert Farah, Izak Van der Merwe win second qualifier – Delray Beach International 2012
Robert Farah ousts Benjamin Balleret 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
World number 245, Robert Farah of Columbia, came back from one set down to beat the world number 321, Benjamin Balleret of Monaco, in three sets 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the qualifying draw at the Delray Beach International
Tennis Championships in USA on Sunday. The Colombian required one hour and 45 minutes throwing his opponent out of the contest.
Farah and Balleret exchanged a break of serve in the first six games of the opening set, equalising the score at 3-3. They held their serves in the next seven games to take the score to 6-5 in favour of Balleret. Farah failed to
hold his serve in the 12th game, losing it 5-7.
The Columbian struck early in the second set, taking a 2-0 lead. Balleret broke back in the fourth game to even out the score at 2-2. Farah won four games in a row after that, sealing the set 6-2.
The Bogota, Colombia resident carried on the winning momentum in the decider and claimed two breaks of serve to capture the set 6-2.
Farah will play sixth seed Marinko Matosevic in the final round of the qualifying draw. Matosevic overcame Blake Strode of USA in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(2) in the previous match.
Austin Krajicek upsets Izak Van der Merwe 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
World number 502, Austin Krajicek of USA, made full use of the home conditions, as he defeated third seed Izak Van der Merwe in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to proceed to the final qualifier. The match lasted for an hour and 58 minutes.
Van der Merwe got to a flying start, claiming first three games to move ahead 3-0. The South African restricted his opponent to winning three games in the opener, clinching it 6-3.
Ranked 129th in the world, Van der Merwe was in complete control as he broke Krajicek in the first game of the second set. However, the American raised his game after that, as he grabbed four straight games to stretch
to a 4-1 lead. Krajicek maintained his lead till the end, winning the second set 6-3.
In the end it all came up to the decider. Krajicek kept his cool and snatched a break of serve in the seventh game to go up 4-3. The America closed out the set in the tenth, capturing it 6-4.
Krajicek is pitted against compatriot Nicholas Monroe for a place in the main draw. Nicholas beat Artem Sitak in the second qualifier.
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