Thailand Open 2010: Nadal picks up his 60th win of the season
Presently ranked no. 1 in the World and seeded no. 1 at the PTT Thailand Open, Spain’s Rafael Nadal’s debut match at the tournament marked his 60th win this season.
The sportsman was made to oppose, qualifier, Belgium’s Ruben Bebelmans, prior to making a place for himself at the quarterfinals of the 2010 PTT Thailand Open.
Nadal got off to a good start as he took the first set, 6-1. Bebelmans and Rafa held on to their serves in the first set of the match, however, Nadal brought a close to the set by taking five straight games to clinch the set.
In spite of the Belgian’s constant struggle, Rafa came around to take the second set 6-4. Nadal merely dropped eight points on his serve and broke Bebelmans’ serve three times during the match to come out victorious at the match played between the two.
In the words of Nadal himself, “It is never easy in a first match.” The professional went on to state that he hardly had a few days rest after the 2010 U.S. Open, but he thinks that he’s playing well, regardless. “Bebelmans played well during some moments
and the second set for sure, was not easy. It is important to start with a win,” said the Spaniard.
Rafa will be made to face Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin, who is currently ranked no. 83 in the world. Kukushkin eliminated Belgium’s Olivier Rochus in the qualifying match played between the two. After engaging in a three set tussle, Mikhail took the match
based upon his 6-4, 6-3 win, in the first and third set, despite dropping the second set 5-7.
Alongside, Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez will be made to face, Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis in the quarter-final match of their draw. Apart from which, Rafa’s compatriot, Fernando Verdasco was sent home upon losing to Germany’s Benjamin Becker.
Becker defeated Verdasco 6-4 and 6-4 in straight sets to be put through to the next round. Amongst the triumphant professionals was also, Sweden’s Robin Soderling. The athlete got through with Frenchman, Edouard Roger-Vasselin, defeating him 6-0 and 6-1,
to advance at the tournament.
Soderling stated, “The first round in any tournament is always difficult,” said the top-seeded Soderling. “I am very happy with the performance. My next match is with Golubev. He is a tough opponent and has had a very good year. I watched his match earlier
and he was very aggressive.”
Things seem to be heating up at the 2010 PTT Thailand Open, as the professionals are battling it out for a place in the finals. With the amount of potential the players have shown, predicting the finalists seems to be a slight impossibility. In case of which,
would probably just have to wait and see. – May the best man win.
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