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4/8/09 3:47 AM | Ricky Dimon
Igor Andreev, the No. 1 seed at the Grand Prix Hassan II, advances in three sets on Tuesday afternoon. Second-seeded Rainer Schuettler, however, is upset by Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo.
(1) Igor Andreev d. Rabie Chaki player profile" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #000;">Rabie Chaki 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Andreev did not look a No. 1 seed at the Grand Prix Hassan II on Tuesday, but he managed to prevail over Chaki, a Moroccan wildcard, in just over two hours. Chaki put pressure on the heavily-favored Russian right from the start, breaking for 5-3 before serving out the first set in routine fashion. Knowing that he had a match on his hands, Andreev broke for a 2-0 lead in the second and consolidated the advantage throughout the remainder of the set. Andreev lost a mere six points in four service games while forcing a decisive third frame of play. Again he went up an early break, but this time Andreev failed to close things out, dropping serve with the match on his racket at 5-4. An immediate break back gave Andreev another chance, and this time he finished Chaki off to book a place in the Casablanca second round. Andreev will do battle with Nicolas Devilder in the second round.
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo d. (2) Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 7-6(5)
Schuettler was not as fortunate as Andreev, the only man seeded ahead of him at the Grand Prix Hassan II. Ramirez Hidalgo, a formidable clay-courter, was simply too tough for the No. 2 seed, winning the crucial points in each set. The underdog Spaniard capitalized on two of three break-point chances in the first set en route to taking it 6-4. Playing aggressive tennis of his opponent's second serves aided Ramirez Hidalgo's efforts. Schuettler did a much better job of taking care of his serve in set two, and it was the German who had the opportunities to level the match. Ramirez Hidalgo, however, saved the only two break points he faced on the way to forcing a tiebreaker. Once again Ramirez Hidalgo was too good at the critical moments, send Schuettler packing by winning the 'breaker seven points to five. Next up for Ramirez Hidalgo is Teimuraz Gabashvili.
Potito Starace d. Oscar Hernandez 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
It was a tale of two matches in one as Starace overcame Hernandez in three sets in the Casablanca first round. Hernandez took the first set with a single break of serve and seized an early break in the second to lead 3-2. That, however, is when the tide turned drastically. The veteran Spaniard dropped serve to bring his opponent level at 303, and Starace never looked back. Starace won went on to win the second 6-3, forcing a final set. The Italian continued to get better and better as the match progressed and he lost only six points in his last four service games while putting in 77 percent of his first deliveries during that span. Starace earned seven break chances in the third frame of play and converted two, the second of which finished off the match in one hour and 46 minutes. Juan Carlos Ferrero will meet Starace for a spot in the quarterfinals.
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