Robin Haase moves into 2nd round as Potito Starace retires – Bet-At-Home Cup 2011
In the only first round match of the day, Dutch number one Robin Haase earned a 6-3, 2-0 retirement victory over Italian Potito Starace at the Bet-At-Home Cup 2011, 67th edition of the ATP World Tour 250 series event
held in Kitzbuhel, Austria. Haase has automatically advanced into the second round on Sunday.
Ranked 53rd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings, Haase was leading 6-3, 2-0 when his 30-year-old rival felt severe pain on his lower back and was forced to retire. The Dutchman not only advanced into
the second round at the Tennis stadium Kitzbuhel but also levelled the head-to-head series by 1-1 against Starace.
The Hague native displayed solid performance in the opening set as he hit quick forehands and backhands from his arsenal of skills to bag entire serves without facing a breakpoint. Haase converted one out of two breakpoint opportunities
to his advantage in the sixth game to clinch the opening set with a 6-3 score line. He clobbered a lower first serve share of 60 percent as compared to Starace’s 75 percent but earned a superb 93 percent win on it. The Dutchman further mustered the set by
smacking six aces to win easily.
The Netherland’s top tennis star, Haase kept momentum floating into the final set as he earned the critical break in the very first game to take the lead. He then smoothly held his serve to extend the lead by 2-0 when the Italian
sustained a lower back injury and was forced to retire. Haase clobbered a poor first serve share of 33 percent as opposed to Starace’s 60 percent but registered a convincing 50 percent win on it. He faced zero breakpoint and cashed in the only breakpoint chance
to his advantage.
Haase has had a monotonous season so far. However, he shined at Chennai after reaching last eight. The Dutchman’s best performance was at Nice where he made a quarter-final berth but was forced to retire due to right ankle injury.
He came from a third round showing at Wimbledon but injuries forced him to retire again.
24-year-old Dutchman will next face second seed, Spaniard Feliciano Lopez who received a bye from the first round after being a top four player of the tournament.
Qualifying seventh seeded Croat Antonio Veic, second seeded Brazilian Joao Souza, third seeded Poll Jerzy Janowicz and fourth seeded German Daniel Brands earned glory later that day and will be Haase in the main draw of the tournament.
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