Robin Haase rallies past Inigo Cervantes to reach quarters – Estoril Open 2012
Dutch number one, Robin Haase, bounced back to outsmart the Spanish qualifier, Inigo Cervantes, in three sets at the Estoril Open 2012 on Wednesday. He joggled up a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory against the world number 188 to labour into the final eight at the
Estoril Court Central in Estoril, Portugal.
The sixth seed proved his class after losing the opening set as he pulled out the victory in two hours and nine minutes in his first encounter against Cervantes. He was broken down three times but capitalised on five out of eight break opportunities to inch
towards his second ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) career title.
The 22-year-old made a powerful start at this ATP World Tour 250 series event and drew the first blood in the fourth game to leap to a 4-1 lead. Apart from losing his serve in the ninth game, he let his spark lit and bagged the opener with a 7-5 win after
cashing in another break chance in the last game.
Haase carried his poor ways in the following set and suffered the first blow in the second game to fall at 0-2. However, he made a quick counterattack and recovered in the very next game. The Dutch continued hitting forehands and availed another break opportunity
in the seventh game, subsequently sealing the equaliser by winning six games to four.
43rd ranked Haase perfected his ways in the final set. After Cervantes held his serve in the opening game, the Dutch blasted massive forehands and went on a five-game rampage. He then plucked his serve once more and pocketed the decider with a
6-2 success.
Overall, the 25-year-old fired three aces and clobbered a better first serve share of 60 per cent as compared to his opponent’s 54 per cent. He also brilliantly clicked 36 out of 49 points on it and ended the match with 95 points.
Next up for Haase is the third seed, Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. The high flying Swiss also triumphed over the Spanish qualifier, Ivan Navarro, to set-up this match. He lost his serve once but cashed in half of the six break chances to register a
7-6(5), 6-1 score line.
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