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6/11/08 12:59 AM | Cheryl Murray
Last year's finalist, Nicolas Mahut held off an inspired Feliciano Lopez in a tight three set encounter.
Last year, Nicolas Mahut made a surprising run to the finals of The Queens Club, where he lost a tight match to American Andy Roddick. The Frenchman has a booming serve which is at it's most effective on the ice rink surface at the Artois Championships. Though he ranked below his opponent (Lopez is ranked 33 to Mahut's 46), Mahut could hardly be considered the underdog, given his performance last year. Rightly so, as it turned out.
Lopez is a big-serving lefty who enjoys playing on faster surfaces, unlike most of his Spanish compatriots. He is a tricky first round opponent, as Mahut found out on Tuesday. Lopez lost the first set, due almost entirely to the fact that he could not get a bead on Mahut's serve. The Frenchman sailed through the set without facing a single break point. Lopez was broken just once, but that is all Mahut needed to secure the first set 6-3.
The Spaniard was more successful on Mahut's serve in the second set, and more importantly took care of his own serve better. There were no breaks in the second, and Lopez held his nerve long enough to win the tiebreak at four to force a third and deciding set.
Chair umpire Steve Ulrich managed to add a bit of controversy into an already entertaining match in the third. The set was highly competitive, with neither man blinking on his own serve. The set inevitably went to a tiebreaker. Lopez had secured a mini-break on Mahut, but Ulrich forced the players to replay the point due to the fact that a fire alarm went off. Lopez lost that point and ended up losing the match.
Mahut will next face American John Isner, in what promises to be another big serve contest.
This was a highly entertaining first round match between two competent grass courters. It was a real treat for fans.
Steve Ulrich robbed Lopez of his chance to win the match by replaying a point that had been rightfully won by Lopez.
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Did you know that... Thomas Johansson did not have to face any of the top-10 players when he won the Australian Open in 2002.
gordana, Dec 3, 2008 9:29 AM
RickyDimon, Dec 3, 2008 5:21 AM
Navratilovastillplay, Dec 3, 2008 12:32 AM
tennisgirl, Dec 1, 2008 11:48 PM
lendl, Dec 1, 2008 6:17 PM
Navratilovastillplay, Dec 3, 2008 1:32 AM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:23 PM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:02 PM
Feliciano Lopez
Nicolas Mahut
Stella Artois Championships
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