Somdev Devvarman downs Robert Kendrick in the opening match at US Men’s Clay Court Championship
World number 71, Indian Somdev Devvarman destroyed world number 80, local Robert Kendrick on Monday to advance to the second round in the 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship.
The 26-year-old Indian registered a 6-2, 6-1 win over the American at River Oaks Country Club in Houston to keep his perfect winning record against the 31-year-old Kendrick. They last met each other on the hard courts at Washington
in 2008. He has now extended his lead in their head-to-head series by 2-0.
The Indian star is in top form as he made a quarter-final berth at Singapore, reached the final at Johannesburg before losing to 4th seeded South African Kevin Anderson and recently made it all the way from the qualifiers
to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells before entering this tournament.
Devvarman displayed top form in the opening set as he just lost his serve once and broke the American’s serve three times through his awesome tact. He moved Kendrick all over the court and dominated over him all the time. The three
out of six breakpoint opportunities he converted to his advantage led him to win the set with a 6-2 score line. Furthermore, the Indian had a higher first share of 71 percent as compared to Kendrick’s 53 percent and registered a convincing 71 percent win on
it.
The Indian improved his form in the second set. He won six games to Kendrick’s one and clinched the final set with an amazing 6-1 score line. He clobbered zero double faults and earned an acceptable 67 percent win on his higher
first serve share. Not to mention that Devvarman conceded zero breakpoints and found eight breakpoint opportunities of which he converted two to his advantage to ease to the next round with a breadstick.
Kendrick, who is seven ranks below the Indian in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, hasn’t had much progress this season. Although he reached the quarter-finals at Memphis before losing to rising star Canadian Milos Raonic,
he didn’t show much spark in this tournament. He committed four double faults, saved only 64 percent of breakpoints and broke his rival serve once to exit from the first round in this tournament as well.
Devvarman will next face 3rd seeded Spanish Guillermo Garcia Lopez who received a first round bye to reach this spot. He can upset the seeded Spaniard easily if he keeps his form and play with same passion.
The 27-year-old made a quarter-final berth at Doha and semi-final berth at Zagreb earlier this season but he has a 40 percent winning record for his last ten matches.
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