Yen-Hsun Lu prevails over Fernando Verdasco in the opening round of Mutua Madrid Open
World number 55 Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei upset world number 17 Fernando Verdasco of Spain in straight sets 7-6(7), 7-5 in the opening round at the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday. The match lasted for two hours and three minutes.
Lu broke Verdasco in the third game of the opening set taking a 2-1 lead. However, Verdasco was quick to respond as he broke back immediately and tied the score at 2-2. Both players held their serve in the next eight games, taking
the set to a tie-break. The tie-break was again a thriller, with Lu clinching two consecutive points in the end to capture it 9-7.
The Taiwanese delivered two aces and a single double fault in the first set. The 27-year-old fired 74 percent of the first serves, winning 71 percent of the points on them in the opening set. In comparison, Verdasco was erratic
with his second serves as he committed four double faults. The Spaniard hit 73 percent of the first serves and won 70 percent of the points on them. The left-handed could save two of the three break points he faced in the first set. Whereas, Lu saved three
of the four break points in the opening set.
Lu and Verdasco comfortably held their serve in the first ten games of the second set, levelling the score at 5-5. Finally, Lu was able to break Verdasco in the 12th game, claiming the set 7-5.
The Taiwanese kept his first serve percentage at 65 percent and converted 77 percent of his first serves into points in the second set. While, Verdasco served better than his opponent, firing 86 percent of the first serves. The
Spaniard bagged 74 percent of the first service points and 23 percent of the first return points in the second set. The 27-year-old failed to capitalize on any of the two break point opportunities he created in the second set. On the other hand, Lu succeeded
in converting one of the two break points he received in the second set.
The right-handed improved his win/loss record to 4-9 in 2011. Lu lost opening round matches in the first six tournaments he played in this year. The Taiwanese started the season at the Medibank International Sydney, where he lost
to French Gilles Simon in straight sets 0-6, 3-6 in the round of 32. The five feet and 11 inches tall won his first match of the year at the BNP Paribas Open, beating Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round.
Lu is drawn to face Belgian Xavier Malisse, ranked 49th in the world, in the second round. Malisse defeated world number 71 Victor Hanescu of Romania in three sets 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the first round.
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