Cricket Web - View Single Post - Week 19: Belgrade, Estoril, Munich, Ramat HaSharon

SirBloody Idiot · 17-02-2011, 08:20 AM

Estoril Open II
PTA Tour 250 - 1st Round - Estoril, Portugal - Clay (Red)

Qualifier Ishan Narang has continued what will no doubt be a magnificent week for the young lad regardless of future results as he outgunned World No. 100 Roman Dorogan in three sets. The erratic Easterner bowed out first round last week in a Greek Challenger, but was dealt a winnable first round clash here in Portugal on clay for the first time this season. After three victories in qualifying, Narang was riding high as he took two service breaks in the opening three games as the Ukrainian No. 3 struggled to stay in the match. But after taking the first set 6-2, things took a turn for the worse as Dorogan stepped up to some rather lacklustre serving from the "usually" solid serving of the Indian-born player. After dropping the second set to one, Narang needed to find his feet fast and got lucky as Dorogan put a forehand wide to give him the early break. It turned out to be a game-changing moment as young Narang grew in confidence and secured a quarter final place with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 win. He now plays fourth seed Kim Vollan; a player who has yet to back up great Grand Slam results at these smaller tournaments.

Another comeback kid was West CWLand's Brett Read, and he had half the trouble of Narang as he proved his class with a 6-1, 6-3 thrashing of Belgium's Mark Harmel. The veteran Belgian has been in diabolical form as of late, and year off or not Read is clearly a superior player on all surfaces. Despite a rough exit last week in Rome, Read is a steady player with good enough groundstrokes to get him past opposition of this quality. After struggling to find his feet over the past few weeks, Read will face a real litmus test on the red clay against Spanish sixth seed Ion Andueza. Andueza, fresh off a 6-3, 6-1 opening round triumph, will be hoping to put a new twist on a thoroughly disappointing clay court season with a good showing in Portugal.

It wasn't all smooth sailing for the Westerners, though, as qualifier Rick Langley bowed out in straight sets to Romanian Bogdan Maurer. Having smashed little-known local Joaquim Santos one and love in the qualifying round on Sunday, Langley was disappointing against Maurer who was just back from injury. The tall and powerful Romanian showed that Langley has some way to go as he kept him well behind the baseline and denied the Westerner many chances to pass him with his long reach and great defensive play. Langley, meanwhile, struggled to get a read on the first serve of Maurer who found the sweet spot from the southern end and never really looked troubled on serve. The 3-6, 2-6 loss is a setback for Langley, but he will be grateful for qualifying points that will at the very least push him just a touch closer to the top hundred. He currently sits at No. 118.

Second seed Sven Oxenstierna learned of his second round opponent as local wildcard Luis Amaral beat out compatriot Helder Lópes in three sets. It gets easier for him as possible quarter final opponent Yves Parmentier the eighth seed was beaten easily by Aldo Marín of Paraguay.

Seeded players out: Yves Parmentier.

17-02-2011, 08:20 AM	#38 (permalink)
SirBloody Idiot Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Moving the hole in the o-zone layer Posts: 8,442	Estoril Open II PTA Tour 250 - 1st Round - Estoril, Portugal - Clay (Red) Qualifier Ishan Narang has continued what will no doubt be a magnificent week for the young lad regardless of future results as he outgunned World No. 100 Roman Dorogan in three sets. The erratic Easterner bowed out first round last week in a Greek Challenger, but was dealt a winnable first round clash here in Portugal on clay for the first time this season. After three victories in qualifying, Narang was riding high as he took two service breaks in the opening three games as the Ukrainian No. 3 struggled to stay in the match. But after taking the first set 6-2, things took a turn for the worse as Dorogan stepped up to some rather lacklustre serving from the "usually" solid serving of the Indian-born player. After dropping the second set to one, Narang needed to find his feet fast and got lucky as Dorogan put a forehand wide to give him the early break. It turned out to be a game-changing moment as young Narang grew in confidence and secured a quarter final place with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 win. He now plays fourth seed Kim Vollan; a player who has yet to back up great Grand Slam results at these smaller tournaments. Another comeback kid was West CWLand's Brett Read, and he had half the trouble of Narang as he proved his class with a 6-1, 6-3 thrashing of Belgium's Mark Harmel. The veteran Belgian has been in diabolical form as of late, and year off or not Read is clearly a superior player on all surfaces. Despite a rough exit last week in Rome, Read is a steady player with good enough groundstrokes to get him past opposition of this quality. After struggling to find his feet over the past few weeks, Read will face a real litmus test on the red clay against Spanish sixth seed Ion Andueza. Andueza, fresh off a 6-3, 6-1 opening round triumph, will be hoping to put a new twist on a thoroughly disappointing clay court season with a good showing in Portugal. It wasn't all smooth sailing for the Westerners, though, as qualifier Rick Langley bowed out in straight sets to Romanian Bogdan Maurer. Having smashed little-known local Joaquim Santos one and love in the qualifying round on Sunday, Langley was disappointing against Maurer who was just back from injury. The tall and powerful Romanian showed that Langley has some way to go as he kept him well behind the baseline and denied the Westerner many chances to pass him with his long reach and great defensive play. Langley, meanwhile, struggled to get a read on the first serve of Maurer who found the sweet spot from the southern end and never really looked troubled on serve. The 3-6, 2-6 loss is a setback for Langley, but he will be grateful for qualifying points that will at the very least push him just a touch closer to the top hundred. He currently sits at No. 118. Second seed Sven Oxenstierna learned of his second round opponent as local wildcard Luis Amaral beat out compatriot Helder Lópes in three sets. It gets easier for him as possible quarter final opponent Yves Parmentier the eighth seed was beaten easily by Aldo Marín of Paraguay. Seeded players out: Yves Parmentier.