Top seed Rui Machado bulldozes Gastao Elias in first round – BVA Open 2011 CH
Two Portuguese players, top seed Rui Machado and Gastao Elias, squared-off in the first round of the BVA Open Challenger, contested in Brazil, on Monday October 24th. It was the first meeting between the two contenders
and ended up in an easiest of the triumph for the top seed, Machado, that clinched the match in an hour and twenty-four minutes with a final score of 6-1, 6-3.
Lourinha resident, Elias, was enjoying a good run of form having won last seven of six of his last nine encounters and the same winning percentage was maintained by his opponent. But provided the superior rank and better game
play, it was obvious that the top seed was the match favourite. Sizeable crowd gathered to witness this encounter.
20-year-old, Elias, was totally down and out throughout the match and was unable to make any sort of impact whatsoever throughout the match. He was totally bamboozled in all aspects of the department. First set was just the glimpse
for his upcoming competitors to have an idea of what they are going to experience when they will face this talented 27-year-old, Machado.
An enthralling first serve success rate of 72% in the first set helped the top seed to put pressure on his opponent but more importantly his return points success rate of 55% (first serve) and 69% (second serve) were the most exciting
feature of the match. He won three out of four allotted breakpoints and clinched the first set in commanding fashion and killing any sort of hope of an upset from his in-experienced counterpart.
Younger contender lost the first set with a massive difference of twelve points. A depressing performance in the first set from the 20-year-old totally demoralized him and he played the second set half-heartedly, not reaching for
slightly difficult balls and almost surrendered at the end of first set.
The second set was slightly better than the first but again it was not a full-hearted effort from the youngster who was already trailing with one set. He did manage to strike the only two aces of the match but that were just a
mere consolation.
The only successful break of the second set came at the crucial time of the match when the seventh game of the second set was in progress. Top seed registered an impressive first and second serve success rate of 71% and 69% respectively
and clinched the spot in the second round of the tournament by winning 56% (thirty six points) in the second set.
Rui Machado is all set to face-off against the Wayne Odesnik of America in the second round of the tournament. It is expected that top seed will ease past this man as well and cruise his way into the third round.
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