Ryan Sweeting defeats Sam Querrey in the second round of US Men’s Clay Court Championships
Longing for a spot in the quarterfinals, America’s Ryan Sweeting defeated compatriot Sam Querrey in three thrilling sets at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships on Thursday. The tournament is being played at the River oaks Country
Club in Houston, Texas.
Sweeting, has been playing tennis professionally for four years now and is ranked 93rd in the world at the age of 23. His opponent Querrey, who is also 23 years old, was once ranked as high as 17th in the
world though now he ranks 20th in the world.
This was the pair’s third meeting on tour with their first having been two years ago at Farmers Classic where Querrey defeated Sweeting in a tough fight at the second round of the tournament. In their latest meeting, two months
back at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, Sweeting had then defeated Querrey returning the favour and settling their head-to-head on even terms.
The opening set saw the higher ranked American serve much better than his lower ranked opponent as he hit two aces while his opponent couldn’t hit a single ace. He registered 63 percent of first serves and won an impressive 82
percent points on them. Sweeting, on the other hand, lagged behind with a meagre 55 per cent points on his 78 percent first serves. Querrey saved 100 percent break point opportunities and grabbed the set with a 6-3 score line.
However, the situation was too different in the second set. This time Sweeting had a lot to offer his higher ranked opponent. He hit 66 percent of first serves, winning 58 percent points on them. He also managed to save 57 percent
break points saving 4 of 7 while his opponent didn’t manage to save any of 3 he faced. The set was totally ignited as both players pushed the set into a tiebreak situation. Sweeting was able to grab a 7-5 win for himself in the second set.
The third set was an all-Sweeting show. Completely dominating his competitor, the American landed 85 per cent of his first serves accurately as opposed to Querrey’s 55 percent. Querrey succeeded in recording a respectable 56 percent
while Sweeting was left behind with 54 percent. Sweeting managed to save 90 per cent break points saving 9 of 10 while his opponent was left lingering at a meager 67 per cent. Sweeting once again managed to grab the win with a 6-3 score line.
Sweeting will face Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Gabashvili moved past Paul Capdeville and Grigor Dimitrov in the first two rounds to get into the quarterfinals.
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