Thiemo de Bakker sails past Evgeny Korolev into quarterfinal round – TEAN International 2011 CH
Sixth seeded local Thiemo de Bakker sailed past unseeded Kazakh Evgeny Korolev into the quarterfinal round of the TEAN International 2011 at Alphens, Netherland on Friday, 9th September. A part of the ATP Challenger
Tour, the TEAN International is a hard court event played at the Alphense Tennis Club.
Taking less than an hour, riding the local support, de Bakker sailed to an easy 6-4, 6-1 win over his Kazakh opponent. De Bakker had earlier done away with wildcard compatriot, Boy Westerhof in straight sets in their opening round
match.
Meeting for the second time de Bakker increased his head-to-head lead to 2-0 as he progressed at the event. Winning the toss, the Kazakh had opened service and comfortably put himself on the scoreboard. Breaking his opponent in
the second game, Korolev managed to secure a 2-0 lead. However, what followed was a battle for the survival as the pair exchanged two breakpoint opportunities between each other. Although the score remained ticking on even terms, the breakpoints testified
to the intense competition between the two. Following a several deuces and long rallies in the seventh game, de Bakker got the lucky break he needed. The Dutch extended his lead to 5-3 with a successful hold of serve in the eighth game. Although Korolev managed
to hold his serve in the ninth game, it was to no avail. The local was able to serve out the set in the tenth game, clinching a 6-4 win and a 1-0 lead in the set score.
Down and broken, Korolev failed to bounce back in the second set. Although he managed to hold serve in the opening game, it was the last time he made his way onto the board. Broken twice in the and unable to penetrate de Bakker’s
defence, Korolev lost six straight games suffering an embarrassing breadstick defeat.
Pleasing the local crowd, de Bakker now moves into the quarterfinal where he will play either the top seeded Frenchman Eric Prodon or countryman Igor Sijsling. The pair are expected to wrap up their second round match later today.
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