Tim Smyczek, Rainer Schuettler through to second round of BNP Paribas Open 2011
Tim Smyczek defeats Illya Marchenko 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
World number 163 Tim Smyczek of US battled past world number 99 Illya Marchenko of Ukraine in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open 2011 on Thursday.
The 23-year-old did not have a good start to the match. He served poorly, getting broken three times in the opening set. The American broke back once in the set, but that was not enough as he lost the first set 2-6.
Smyczek hit only 35 per cent of the first serves, winning just 33 per cent of the points on them. The American saved 3 of the 6 break points he faced in the set whereas his opponent saved 7 of the 8 break point opportunities.
After losing the first set due to poor serving, Smyczek changed his technique and started to serve accurately in the second set. He hit 69 per cent of the first serves, winning 80 per cent of the points on them which helped him in clinching the set 6-3.
The American broke his opponent twice in the final set, winning it 6-2. He did not face a single break point in the final set. Smyczek received 3 break points in the set and converted 1 of them which proved decisive.
Smyczek is drawn to meet world number 35 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the next round in what will be the first meeting between the two.
Rainer Schuettler ousts Robin Haase 7-6, 7-5
In another first round match, Rainer Schuettler of Germany defeated Robin Haase of Netherlands in straight sets 7-6, 7-5 to reach the second round.
Schuettler and Haase exchanged two breaks of serve in the first set. After the tenth game, both players held their serve to level the set at 6-6, taking the set to a tiebreak which the German won 7-4.
The 34-year-old saved 1 of the 3 break points he faced in the first set. On the other hand, his opponent saved 3 of 5 break points.
In the second set, Haase broke Schuettler in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. However, the German broke back immediately and held his next service game, levelling the set at 3-3. Schuettler broke his opponent once more, winning the second set 7-5.
The German hit 4 aces and 72 per cent of the first serves in the second set. In comparison, Haase hit a single ace and 67 per cent of the first serves in the set.
Schuettler will meet world number 31 Gilles Simon of France in the second round. The French leads the German 4-1 in the duo’s head-to-head record.
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