Tobias Kamke, Bjorn Phau fail to qualify for the main draw – BNP Paribas Open 2012
Amer Delic defeats Tobias Kamke 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
World number 178 Amer Delic upset second seed Tobias Kamke in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the final qualifier at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old qualified for the main draw at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event for just the sixth time in his nine year career.
Delic started the match playing better game than his higher ranked opponent. He needed a single break of serve in the first set to clinch it 6-3.
Kamke was in no mood to go down easily as he struck twice in the second. The German capitalised on the double break and served out the set at 5-2.
However, it was Delic’s day, as the Florida resident drew the final blood. He claimed a single breakthrough in the decider and capitalised on it to win 6-4.
The right-hander managed to secure a win despite having an erratic second serve, hitting a total of five double faults in the match. The reason behind his success was his accurate first deliveries, putting in 72 of them. He also
captured 17 of the 35 second return points in the match. The contest lasted for an hour and 34 minutes.
Delic is drawn to face world number 63, Dudi Sela of Israel, in the opening round.
Andrey Golubev beats Bjorn Phau 6-4, 6-4
Eighth seed Bjorn Phau also faced an upset loss, as he was beaten by Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan in straight sets 4-6, 4-6 in the final match of the qualifying draw. The Kazakh took just an hour and 58 minutes to kick out Phau
from the tournament.
Golubev made the initial breakthrough and consolidated on it to move ahead. The Kazakh did not allow Phau to come back, winning the opener 6-4.
Ranked 145th in the world, Golubev served quite well in the first set. He bagged 11 of the 14 first and 10 of the 14 second delivery points. The right-hander saved the only break point he came across and converted one
of the five he received in the opener.
In a similar fashion to the first set, Golubev struck only once and utilised the opportunity to claim the second 6-4.
The Kazakh fired three aces and did not commit any double fault. In comparison, Phau could not deliver any ace and hit a couple of double faults in the second set.
Golubev will take on fellow qualifier Rik De Voest in the first round of the main draw.
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