Robin Haase stuns Andreas Seppi to cruise into the semis – Bet-At-Home Cup 2011
Dutch number one, Robin Haase kept his energy for his second game of the day against sixth seeded Italian Andreas Seppi, whom he crushed in straight sets, at the Bet-At-Home Cup 2011, a clay court tournament held at Tennis stadium
Kitzbuhel in Kitzbuhel, Austria. He registered a 6-4, 6-2 success over the 27-year-old Seppi to book a semi-final spot on Thursday.
World number 53 Haase put up a brilliant display of skills throughout the day. After registering a series of upsets, he not only secured a last four spot at this ATP World Tour 250 series event but also earned his first win against
Seppi, ranked five places above him, on their third meeting. The Dutchman took revenge from his loss at Marseille earlier this year after earning this straight set victory.
The Hague native, Haase made a terrible entry at the Kitzbuhel courts as he lost his serve in the very first game. However, the Dutchman quickly counter-attacked in the fourth game to square the scores at 2-2. He then exchanged
series of breaks with the Italian and after losing his serve in the ninth game, Haase broke back again to seal the opener with a 6-4 win.
He fended off only two out of five breakpoints faced but converted four out of seven breakpoint opportunities to his advantage. Haase also smacked two aces, capitalised on the four double faults Seppi committed and registered an
impressive 65 percent win on his higher first serve share.
24-year-old Dutch lost his track in the final set as he lost his opening serve again in the first game. However, he roared back with a fit reply. Haase unleashed massive forehands and backhands to reel off next four games in a
row before the Italian could hold on. He then wiped out final two games as well to clinch with a 6-2 score line.
Haase slammed four ferocious aces this time and earned a convincing 63 percent win on his higher first serve share. He further spiced the match by saving half breakpoints conceded and capitalising on three out of four breakpoint
chances to his advantage.
Earlier that day, the Dutchman bounced back to overpower second seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in a three set mouth watering match. He suffered a terrible 1-6 defeat in the opening set but didn’t give a single breakpoint opportunity
to Lopez after it. Haase eventually sealed the match with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory in just under two hours.
Up next for Haase is a Brazilian qualifier, Joao Souza who stunned eight seed, Spaniard Pablo Andujar in straight sets to set-up this clash.
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