Roberto Bautista-Agut edges past Inigo Cervantes to reach the main draw – Grand Prix Hassan II 2012
In an all-Spanish contest, qualifying sixth seeded Roberto Bautista-Agut stomped over his compatriot, Inigo Cervantes, in straight sets at the qualifying competition of Grand Prix Hassan II 2012 on Monday. He formulated a 6-3, 6-3 success against the 22-year-old
to secure a place in the main draw at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event held on Casablanca’s dirt.
Bautista-Agut got the better of his fellow citizen after capitalising on six out of eight break chances in one hour and 33 minutes. He produced poor first serve share of 48 per cent as opposed to Cervantes’ 60 per cent but acceptably marked 15 out of 24
points on it.
The 23-year-old made a strong start at the Complexe Al Amal and after earning the desiderated break in the opening game, he jumped to a 2-0 lead. He then exchanged two serve breaks in the following four games and consequently took a 5-3 lead. Bautista-Agut
cashed in another break chance in the last game and pulled out the opener by winning six games to three.
Ranked 152nd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Bautista-Agut kept momentum sailing into the following set and after carving out the break in the second game, he leaped to a 3-0 lead. In spite of losing his edge in the fifth
game, the higher ranked Spaniard converted another break chance to his advantage in the eighth game and clinched the set with a 6-3 score line.
Next in line for Bautista-Agut is the Italian ace, Potito Starace, in the opening round.
The qualifying third seed, Evgeny Donskoy, faced a different fate later that day. He made quick in-roads and bagged the opener with a single break of serve. However, the Russian then stepped off gas and ultimately suffered a 6-4, 2-6, 5-7 defeat at the hands
of the Spanish contender, Sergio Gutiérrez-Ferrol. Donskoy capitalised on two out of 13 break opportunities but brushed off only five out of nine breakpoints he faced. He had a better first serve share but failed to take advantage of it.
The Spaniard will face Portugal’s Rui Machado in the round of 32.
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