Teymuraz Gabashvili, Pere Riba move into second round – SkiStar Swedish Open 2011
Amongst the first round men’s singles matches on Monday’s roster of the 2011 SkiStar Swedish Open Teymuraz Gabashvili and Pere Riba moved into the second round after defeating Michael Yani and Christian Lindell respectively.
Swede Lindell, another wild card entry, followed the precedent set by his compatriots and bowed out to the victor, Spaniard Pere Riba in a simple 2-0 win. In the other match, Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili ousted American Michael
Yani by gaining an effective 2-1 victory.
The match between Michael Yani and Teymuraz Gabashvili came as a surprise to many when Gabashvili emerged as the victor. Yani, who had been given a special exempt to enter the main draws of the tournament because of his engagement
at the Davis Cup, has been at the top of his game recently. Just a few weeks back Yani had registered his highest ever professional performance by reaching the semi-finals at Newport.
The Russian utilized three sets to race ahead of his American opponent. Gabashvili opened the first set by serving first and registered the first and only serve break of the set at 3-1. Despite Yani’s concerted efforts that even
won him two aces the set ended 6-3 in Gabashvili’s favor. Yani’s improved first serve accuracy (around 73%) garnered 15 of the 22 serve points in the second set. But it was the unexpected breakpoint converted by Yani that eventually sealed the set at 3-6,
with Yani winning it. Gabashvili pounced back in the decisive third set of the match and recovered a breakpoint early on in the set. This breakpoint was able to cover for Gabashvili’s deteriorating first serve accuracy, which was a dismal 58% in the set. The
match ended 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 with Gabashvili proceeding on to the next round.
In the second match Riba completely obliterated his weak opponent to win the game easily at 6-4, 6-2. The opening set saw both the players getting a single ace each. Two breakpoints saved and the three breakpoints successfully
converted by Riba earned him the set at 6-4. The second set too was basically a one sided game with Riba in the lead from the start. Riba registered two serve breaks and was able to win 10 of his 12 serve points, all of which proved to be effective against
Lindell who succumbed to a 6-2 defeat.
Gabashvili will now face third seed Czech Tomas Berdych who had received a bye to the next round. While Riba is all set to compete in the round two match against second seed David Ferrer.
Tags: