Santiago Giraldo beats Alexandr Dolgopolov in the first round of Mutua Madrid Open
World number 60 Santiago Giraldo of Colombia prevailed over world number 21 Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine in straight sets 6-1, 7-5 in the opening round at the Mutua Madrid Open in Madrid on Sunday. Giraldo took only an hour and
seven minutes to oust his opponent.
The Colombian thrashed Dolgopolov in the first set, losing just a single game to claim the set 6-1. Giraldo kept his first serve percentage at 67 percent and clinched 72 percent of the points on his first serve in the opening set
while; Dolgopolov had a low first serve percentage as he hit just 44 percent of the first serves, winning 71 percent of the points on them. Giraldo converted both break points he received in the first set. The Colombian saved the only break point he faced
in the opening set.
Giraldo and Dolgopolov broke each other once in the first 10 games of the second set to level the score at 5-5. The Colombian broke Dolgopolov in the 11thgame to go ahead 6-5 and held his serve in the next game, winning
the set 7-5.
The 23-year-old fired a couple of aces and did not commit any double fault in the second set. Giraldo delivered 71 percent of the first serves, converting 74 percent of them into points in the second set. On the other hand, Dolgopolov
served pretty badly as he committed three double faults and hit just 43 percent of the first serves. However, the Ukrainian’s first serve conversion rate was satisfactory as he converted 69 percent of them into points in the second set. The 22-year-old was
able to save four of the six break points he faced in the second set. On the other hand, Giraldo saved four of the five break points he faced in the second set.
The Colombian improved his win/loss record to 17-11 in this year. Giraldo started the season at the Brisbane International, where he lost to South African Kevin Anderson in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 4-6 in the quarterfinals. The right-handed
was defeated by Marin Cilic of Croatia 3-6, 6-7(1), 1-6 in the round of 64 at the Australian Open. Giraldo gave his best performance of the season so far at the Movistar Open as he reached the title match, losing to Spaniard Tommy Robredo in three sets 2-6,
6-2, 6-7(5).
This is Giraldo’s second appearance at the Mutua Madrid Open. The Colombian lost to John Isner of USA in three sets 6-1, 6-7(6), 2-6 in the second round last year.
Giraldo is slated to meet world number 5 Robin Soderling of Sweden in the second round. The Swede, seeded fifth at the event, received a bye in the first round.
Tags: