Xavier Malisse beats Grigor Dimitrov in opener – BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy 2012
Belgian Xavier Malisse sailed into the second round of the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest, Romania on Monday, 23rd April 2012 after doing away with the lower ranked Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets.
World number 67th, Malisse, took only seventy three minutes to secure a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 win over Dimitrov in their first career meeting ever.
Winning the toss, Dimitrov opened serve only to have it broken in the very first game. With much ease, Malisse secured an early 2-0 lead in the first set as he held his first service game of the match. Down a game, Dimitrov never
managed to bounce back in the game as he continued to trail on the scoreboard. Progressing on their individual serves, Malisse led the scoreboard 4-2 extending it to 5-2 after yet another successful break of Dimitrov’s serve in the seventh game. Losing only
one point in the final game, Malisse was able to serve out the set to secure a 6-2 win in the opener.
Capitalizing on Dimitrov’s two double faults, Malisse threw in his own one ace and a 75 percent first serve win in the mix to go one up in the set score.
Down and from the looks of it definitely out, Dimitrov failed to make any impact in the second set. Suffering another early break in the set, Dimitrov was once more trailing two games down as the scoreboard read 1-3 for Malisse.
Capitalising on another breakpoint opportunity, Malisse was able to extend his lead to 4-1. Dimitrov desperately tried to stay in the match as he managed to reduce the score deficit in the eighth game after breaking Malisse to trail 3-5. However, the contest
was almost over already. Serving out the set at 5-4, Malisse was able to secure a 6-4 win in the second set, sealing his straight sets win over the Bulgarian.
Maintaining a steady 75 percent win on his first serve, Malisse hit two more aces in the second set, as he cruised to victory riding Dimitrov’s costly two more double faults.
Malisse now moves into the second round of the event to play the second seeded German, Florian Mayer. A seeded player at the event, Mayer received a bye into the second round of the event. This will be the pair’s third meeting
ever on the ATP Tour with the German leading a perfect 2-0 in the head to head score.
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