Tobias Kamke overcomes Edouard Roger-Vasselin to reach semi-finals – Hall of Fame Championships 2011
World number 96 Tobias Kamke of Germany came back after getting one set down to rally past French Edouard Roger-Vasselin, ranked 136th in the world, in three sets 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinals at the Campbell’s
Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport on Thursday. The German took an hour and 38 minutes to oust his opponent.
Roger-Vasselin played quite well in the first set as he broke the German in the fourth game and consolidated on it to take a 4-1 lead. The French maintained his lead throughout the set and served it out at 5-3.
The six feet and two inches tall made full use of his huge serves as he hit 71 percent of the first serves and converted an amazing 94 percent of them into points. On the other hand, Kamke served erratically as he delivered just
50 percent of the first serves and committed a couple of double faults in the first set. The German managed to win a dismal six percent of the first return points. Roger-Vasselin converted one of the two break point opportunities he created on Kamke’s serve
in the opening set.
After dropping the first set easily, Kamke came roaring in the second set, breaking Roger-Vasselin in the second game and fourth game to take a 5-0 lead. The French succeeded in holding his serve in the sixth game to avoid a bagel
set. Kamke served out the set in the next game, capturing it 6-1.
The German bagged six of the nine second service points in the second set. Kamke did not give his opponent any easy service points and managed to clinch 40 percent of the first return points in the second set. The 25-year-old won
two of the four break points he received on the Frenchman’s serve in the second set.
In the final set, the German broke Roger-Vasselin in the fifth game and held his serve in the next game to go ahead 4-2. Serving to stay in the set at 3-5, the French was unable to hold his serve and lost the set 3-6.
Kamke had a slightly better first serve percentage than his opponent but he made the difference with the conversion rate, winning 80 percent of the first service points compared to just 50 percent by the Frenchman. The German capitalised
on two of the nine break point opportunities he created on Roger-Vasselin’s serve and saved both break points he faced on his own serve in the third set.
The eighth seed will take on top seed John Isner of USA in the semi-finals. Isner ousted compatriot Alex Bogomolov Jr. in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
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