Robin Haase shocks Juan Monaco to reach round two – Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012
Dutch number one, Robin Haase, earned a 7-5, 0-6, 2-3 retirement victory against the 11th seeded Argentinean, Juan Monaco, at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012 on Tuesday. As a result, the 25-year-old booked a place
into the round of 32 at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament taking place in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
The Belgium resident stepped off steam in the second set and was a break down in the decider, when Monaco injured his right ankle and was forced to pull out from the tournament. After earning this one hour and 59-minute success,
Haase not only levelled the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series by 2-2 against the world number 14 but also secured a spot in the second round.
Haase made a sluggish start at the Monte Carlo Country Club and suffered the first blow in the fifth game to fall at 2-4. However, he remained calm and not only grabbed his break back in the eighth game but capitalised on another
break chance in the last game to seal the opener with a 7-5 win.
Monaco, who won the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston last week, unveiled his true class in the second set and went on a six-game killing spree. He slid his entire serves without facing any barrier and cashed in half
of the six break opportunities to bag the equaliser with a bagel.
The match could have gone in any direction at that point but Monaco was the one who carried his rhythm and earned the coveted break in the third game to go 3-1 up. However, after the Dutch held his serve in the fifth game, Monaco
was forced to withdraw after injuring his right ankle.
Haase on the other hand automatically advanced into the second round where the Italian star, Fabio Fognini, awaits him. Fognini needed 76 minutes to outclass the French veteran, Michael Llodra, in straight sets in their second
battle against each other.
The Swiss ace, Stanislas Wawrinka, will accompany Haase in the second round. Wawrinka stunned the 10th seed, Feliciano Lopez, with a breadstick in 68 minutes to earn the limelight.
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