Tommy Haas takes down Rajeev Ram in final qualifier - Erste Bank Open 2011
Monday, 24th October continued with the final round qualifier matches of the Erste Bank Open 2011, an ATP World Tour 250 event. Tommy Haas, German World No.273, went on against American, Rajeev Ram, world No.214, beating
him in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, in an hour and 17 minutes indoor hard court match.
Playing at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, the two went on again each other for the first time. Formerly ranked world No.78, Ram has had 50 percent winning percentage considering his prior 10 match run. Unable to qualify into
main rounds of most of his previous played events, Ram got knocked out once again, this time by the former world No.9.
Anyhow, with the two taking their places on the light blue court, Haas won the toss and stood to serve first. Winning away his opening serve, Haas ran down the scoreboard, 1-0. Levelling up next, American followed up bagging his
opening serve and switched 1-1.
Blistering a triple game point winner, Haas went away with game 3 to lead the set, 2-1, however, the former world No.78 levelled up in the next instant. With the two battling out hard, former world No.9 finally struck back, serving
out game 5 and breaking his rival in game 6, 4-2, leading the set with 2 games.
Serving out next, the veteran American extended his lead to 5-2 and was left behind with one more win to bag the set. With the two winning a game each next, led Haas to bag the set, 6-3, to move on to set 2.
Unable to captivate the first set, Ram continued with the second and opened up the set serving first. However, American world No.214 still could not break the rock solid defence of the former world No.9, German, and broke down.
Leading the set from the start, Haas broke-n-served the first two games, 2-0, and switched the serve back. Winning away his first game, Ram finally opened up his side of the scoreboard, however, was unable to break back any soon.
With the two winning games, the scores scorched up, 3-2 and then 5-3.
Ram did win a scare as he slashed down the lead to 5-4, yet could not break back, and lost the next game, 6-4, and the set as his rival, Haas went on winning the fixture in straight sets and into the main draw of the ATP World
Tour 250 event.
Through into the main draws, Haas is still hoping to put his remaining power in winning one more event and retiring. However, with many of the top seeds all ready looking for the trophy it seems hard for the veteran to go any where
near the final rounds.
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