Sunday, March 9, 2014

Berdych suffers shock loss to Bautista-Agut

Roberto Bautista Agut  Tomas Berdych has suffered a shock second round loss to 25 year old Roberto Bautista-Agut. The world number 53 was producing amazing Nadal like shots throughout his roller coaster 46 62 64 victory against the forth seed.

In the first set Bautista-Agut took an early advantage by breaking a tentative Berdych in the first game. Agut looked in control of the match until Berdych raced to a 0-40 lead against Agut when he was 4-3 up on serve. Despite being able to come back to deuce, it still wasn't enough to contain Berdych as he broke to level it up at 4-4. From there on Berdych took a strong foothold in the set by holding his serve followed by breaking Agut for the second consecutive time to take it 64. Berdych's winner-unforced errors ratio was 12-14 compared to Bautista-Agut's 9-22.




In the next set the tides abruptly turned. Berdych was unable to carry his first set momentum into the second set due to the mighty resistance demonstrated by Bautista-Agut. Displaying some fantastic constructed points Agut stormed on to take full command of the second set which clearly rattled Berdych. The consistent Spaniard took it comfortably 6-2 by producing 81% first serves in (winning 77%). On the other hand Berdych's first serve was a dismal 35% as well as 17 unforced errors.

Things kept going Agut's way as he draw first blood in the final set by breaking Berdych's serve imediately yet again in the first game. Berdych did manage to gradually come back to level the set again at 4-4 but this was still not enough to contain Agut. The Spaniard broke again to serve it out and take the match on his first match point. This was a disappointing loss for a slightly below par Berdych but nothing should be taken away from Agut's brilliant performance and appraoch to the match. This is now Agut's second top ten win in 2014 after his win over Juan Martin Del Potro at the Australian Open.

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