Sergiy Stakhovsky, Potito Starace qualify for the second round – BMW Open 2012
Sergiy Stakhovsky beats Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 7-6(3), 6-3
World number 68, Sergiy Stakhovsky, prevailed over 91st ranked, Cedrik-Marcel Stebe of Germany, in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-3 in the round of 16 at the BMW Open in Munich, Russia, on Tuesday.
Stakhovsky and Stebe held their serves throughout the first set to level the score at 6-6 and force a tie-breaker. They went on equal terms till 3-3 but then the Ukrainian won four successive points to close it 7-6(3).
In the second set, both players won their serves in the first four games, squaring off the score at 2-2 but Stakhovsky struck twice after that, capitalising on the double break to win 6-3.
The Ukrainian banged in five aces and pocketed 29 of the 36 first serve points in the match. He also did well on the second deliveries and returns, bagging 19 of the 30 and 15 of the 31 points on them respectively. The 26-year-old
put away both break threats he faced and utilised two of the seven opportunities he created.
Stakhovsky required an hour and 45 minutes to post this win over his German opponent.
The Ukrainian will lock horns with second seed, Feliciano Lopez of Spain, in the second round.
Potito Starace defeats David Goffin 6-3, 7-6(3)
Potito Starace, ranked 77th in the world, toppled 108th ranked, David Goffin, in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(3) and moved to the second round. The Italian, Starace, took one hour and 40 minutes to beat the Belgian.
Starace claimed breakthrough in the fourth game of the first set and consolidated on it to grab a 4-1 advantage. The Italian did not let away his lead and capitalised on it to triumph 6-3.
The 30-year-old pounded three aces and 75 percent of the first deliveries, grabbing 17 of the 21 points on them in the first set. He did not give any break chance to Goffin and availed one of the five of his own.
Starace and Goffin failed to break each other in the second set, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. The 6ft 2in tall hit three blows and made the most of them to seal it 7-6(3).
The Italian put in 77 percent of the first serves, converting 22 of the 33 of them into points. He was brilliant on the second deliveries too, winning eight of the 10 points on them.
Starace will take on fifth seed, Bernard Tomic of Australia, in the round of 16. The Australian ousted Belgium’s Olivier Rochus in the first round.
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