Roberto Bautista-Agut beats Gorka Fraile to enter the quarterfinals – San Sebastian 2011 CH
There had never been a chance for Spain’s Gorka Fraile detaining eighth-seeded Roberto Bautista-Agut for very long on the clay courts of San Sebastian in their second round
meeting with the better player winning the match in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
Bautista-Agut, ranked 181 in the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) rankings list, had easily won his first round match again compatriot Ivan Navarro and looked completely
determined in his second round match as not to give his opponent even a smidgen of hope. His serve was immediately in the rhythm and the pressure quickly began to grow on Fraile’ serve, who eventually lost the match in just 61 minutes of play.
The only danger was that Bautista-Agut might, because of his superiority in rankings, become a little careless and a couple of unforced errors brought a little gasps from
his fans, however, he was not about to lose anything, clinching the match in straight sets.
The Gulf in the class was pretty evident from the beginning as Bautista-Agut’s brutal groundstrokes wobbled Fraile first and he quickly raced towards a 4-2 lead in the opener.
Nonetheless, Fraile was not finished yet, he kept his head up and Bautista-Agut’s relaxed attitude saw him losing his single break point opportunity in the opener and allowing Fraile to level the score on even terms.
All Bautista-Agut needed was some change in game plan and as he shifted to his new style, a devilish cross-court volley saw him serving for the opener. The angles which
Bautista-Agut executed were majestic at times, and he comfortably wrapped up the first set with a 6-4 score line.
The 23-year-old Bautista-Agut concluded the opener, winning 65 percent on service, 46 percent on return and 56 percent of points in total. In contrast, Fraile lost the opener
with a meager of six points in total, winning 54 percent on service, 35 percent on return and 44 percent of points in total.
Great athletes are always recognized by how well they can resist the pressure in a difficult situation, although a little luck helps too. Bautista-Agut called upon both
of these virtues in the second set to clinch it with a breadstick win. It all happened so quickly that Bautista-Agut was basking in the glory of the finish line apparently in sight, when a forehand long gave him the entry pass to the quarterfinal of the 2011
San Sebastian where he will meet either top-seeded Albert Ramos or Guillermo Alcaide in an all-Spanish quarterfinal showdown.
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