Simone Bolelli, Michael Russell advance to the second qualifier – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
Simone Bolelli defeats Amer Delic 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3
Seeded 11th in the tournament draw, Simone Bolelli of Italy fought back from a set and break down to beat world number 210, Amer Delic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 in the opening qualifier at the Sony
Ericsson Open in Miami on Monday.
Bolelli was just three points away from losing the match at one stage but clawed his way back to win the contest after a struggle of two hours and 16 minutes.
Delic got off to a good start, claiming opening three games to build a 3-0 lead. Bolelli bounced back and evened out the score at 3-3. Delic hit a blow again in the 10th game to seal it 6-4.
The Bosnia and Herzegovinian was on the verge of victory, making a breakthrough in the sixth game and holding his next to take a 5-2 advantage. However, Bolelli was no mood to surrender, winning four of the next five games to level
the score at 6-6 and take it to a tie-breaker. The Italian ran forward to a 4-1 lead and capitalised it to win 7-6(5).
After equalising the score at one set apiece, Bolelli continued from where he had left. The Italian snatched a break in the fourth game and consolidated on it to win the decider 6-3.
Bolelli will play world number 159, Florent Serra of France, in the second qualifier. Serra stunned 19th seed, Thomas Schoorel of the Netherlands, in the opening match.
Michael Russell beats Tim Smyczek 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
World number 134, Michael Russell of USA, survived a scare in the first set and overcame world number 267, compatriot Tim Smyczek, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to get through to the second qualifier.
Smyczek drew the first blood, as he earned a break in the fifth game of the first set and capitalised on to win 6-4.
The second set did not see any breakthrough from both players until the eighth game, when Russell finally struck to attain a 5-3 lead and served it out without wasting any opportunity.
The 20th seed, Russell, took full advantage of the winning momentum and raced to a 4-0 lead in the decider. The American made the most of the double break and captured it 6-2. Russell took one hour and 54 minutes to
win the contest.
The American is drawn to take on 12th seed, Bjorn Phau of Germany, in the next match. The German beat wild card entrant, Daniel Evans, in the first qualifier.
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