Tobias Kamke downs Izak Van Der Merwe in the opening round – SAP Open 2012
German star, Tobias Kamke, eased past the South African competitor, Izak Van Der Merwe, in straight sets at the SAP Open 2012 on Monday. He registered a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the 28-year-old to book a spot in the round of 16 at this hard court tournament
held in San Jose, United States.
In the only first round match that took place at the HP Pavilion, Kamke showed solid performance to dump the South African in their first meeting. He not only booked a spot in the second round at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour
250 series event but also inched closer to bag $600,000 prize money.
World number 89, Kamke, assertively entered the opening set and smoothly slid in entire serves after brushing off both breakpoints he came across. He then cashed in the only break opportunity and sealed the opener by winning six games to three. The German
clobbered almost an equal first serve share of 58 percent and amazingly clicked 12 out of 19 points on it.
The Hamburg resident carried his momentum into the following set. Apart from failing to block the only breakpoint he encountered, Kamke capitalised on all three break chances and ultimately won the set with a 6-3 score line. He also produced a spectacular
first serve share of 72 percent as opposed to the South African’s 47 percent and took full advantage of the several unforced errors De Merwe spilled.
Next up for the 25-year-old is the third seed, Milos Raonic, who received a first round bye after being a top four player in this event.
Earlier in the qualifying competition, fourth seed Denis Kudla rallied past his compatriot, Blake Strode, in a three set mouth-watering match to enter the main draw.
Ranked 203rd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Kudla saved the only breakpoint he faced in the opening set and capitalised on one out of two break chances to bag the opening set with a 6-4 win.
The lower ranked American continued coughing errors in the following set but managed to save both breakpoints he encountered. Strode, however, failed to convert the only break opportunity to his advantage but dominated in the tie-breaker, eventually equalising
the set scores.
Kudla improved his game in the final set and held entire serves without facing any hindrance. He then broke Strode’s serve once and clinched the decider with a 6-4 score line.
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