Tomas Berdych survives past Julien Benneteau into the third round – Rogers Cup 2012
Fourth seed, Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic, survived a scare to beat the world number 31, Julien Benneteau, in three sets 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of Rogers Cup in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday. The Czech contender
needed three hours and four minutes to win a marathon match.
Berdych and Benneteau did not drop even a single serve in the first set, squaring off the proceedings at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. Although, Benneteau had to save three break points on his serve in a 23-point 12th
game. Berdych grabbed four of the first six points to move ahead 4-2 but the Frenchman won two in a row after that to come at par. Benneteau and Berdych went neck to neck till 10-10 but then the Frenchman claimed a mini-break and capitalised on it to triumph
7-6(10).
Benneteau fired two aces and made the same number of double faults in the first set. The right-hander gave an average performance on his serve, keeping the first delivery percentage at 58 and pocketing 28 of the 42 points on them.
In the second set, Benneteau and Berdych held their serves in the first half to take the score to 3-3. The Czech star snatched a break in the seventh and consolidated on it to go up 5-3. Berdych did not give any chance to the Frenchman
to comeback, sealing it 6-4.
The 26-year-old made the most of his powerful serves, bombarding seven aces on his French rival and capturing 15 of the 17 first delivery points. The Monte Carlo, Monaco resident fared badly on the first returns, losing 13 of the
16 points on them. Nevertheless, he sealed seven of the 13 second replies and converted the only break opportunity he received in the second set.
Berdych and Benneteau held their serve in the opening two games of the deciding set to equalise the score at 1-1. The Czech player hit a blow to Benneteau in the third and sustained his advantage till the end, closing it 6-4.
The 6ft 5in tall repeated his brilliant serve performance in the final set, pounding six aces and winning 14 of the 16 first delivery points. The Monte-Carlo, Monaco resident did not provide any break opportunity to his French
rival.
Berdych will meet the 14th seed, Richard Gasquet, in the round of 16. Gasquet downed Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan in the previous match.
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