Robin Haase downs Matthias Bachinger in the opener – German Tennis Championships 2012
Holland’s 42nd ranked player, Robin Haase, cruised to the next stage by knocking out the local wild card entrant, Matthias Bachinger, in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the bet-at-home German Tennis Championships. This
ATP World Tour 250 event is held annually in the German city of Hamburg.
Haase and Bachinger started off the contest stably, not allowing each other to break serve in the opening four games to take the score to 2-2. The Dutch contender grabbed the initial breakthrough in the fifth and won his following
serve to attain a 4-2 lead. Haase made sure that Bachinger do not make a comeback, capturing it 6-4.
The Dutch player served splendidly well, firing four aces and capturing 14 of the 16 first delivery points. The 25-year-old also fared pretty well on the second serves and returns, claiming six of the nine and nine of the 13 points
on them respectively. In comparison, Bachinger banged in three aces but he also made the same number of double faults. The local player did well to win 15 of the 17 points on the first deliveries but lost nine of the 13 on the second ones in the opener.
Haase came roaring in the second set, stinging breaks in the first and third game, consolidating on both of them to move ahead 4-0. The Dutch player maintained his advantage until the end to close it 6-2.
The 6ft 3in tall hit one ace and 76 percent of the first serves, sealing 13 of the 16 points on them in the second set. The right-hander remained confident on the second deliveries, as he did not commit any double fault and claimed
three of the five points. Haase lost nine of the 13 points on the first replies but compensated by clinching eight of the 13 on the second returns. The Dutch contestant did not give any break chance to Bachinger and availed two of the three he received from
his opponent.
With this win, Haase improved his win/loss record to 14-17 in this season. He has advanced to the quarter-final stages three times on the ATP World Tour in this season. The Dutchman gave his best performance at the Monte-Carlo
Rolex Masters in April, where he stunned Juan Monaco in the opening round and went on to reach the quarters.
Haase will now face either Florian Mayer or Horacio Zeballos in the second round.
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