Fuente : Wimbledon
http://www.wimbledon.org

WIMBLEDON: Bracciali Outguns Karlovic

/noticias.info/ Tuesday, June 21, 2005

The packed crowd on Court 13 will have been impressed by the performance of both the combatants who opened the day's proceedings out on the intimate show court at the back of the club. The two were not marquee names, but they put on a show which will have gone down well with those who like power tennis, especially when packaged in a marathon contest which produced a total of 81 aces.

The more knowledgeable would have realised that that would be the fare when they saw the giant figure of Ivo Karlovic stride on court. What might have surprised them was that his opponent, Daniele Bracciali, was more than capable of providing his own brand of similar tennis.

Karlovic, at 6'10", is an imposing figure. His serve is intimidating and as his tally of 51 aces suggests, opponents need quick reactions to make effective returns, and be prepared to deal with balls up near the ears.

Bracciali learnt all about that at first hand when he met, and beat, the big Croat in the final of the Challenger event recently held on grass in leafy Surbiton in Surrey.

That encounter ended with the Italian safely negotiating his way through three tie-break sets, so it was no surprise to see that breakers were again required to settle this first round match.

Unfortunately for the two protagonists, no tie-break is played in the fifth set and after four hours, they were still locked in battle at 9-all in the decider. Karlovic held the advantage of serving first.

Coming into the fortnight, with two finals appearances on grass in the last three weeks, Karlovic was expected to be a dangerous floater in the draw. Similarly, the last player the 27-year-old from Croatia would have wanted to meet was the 26-year-old Italian who is patient, can match him in the power stakes, and has the flair to stretch him.

A backhand service return finally broke the Croat's resolve and a much relieved Bracciali held his nerve to secure a dramatic 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (10-8), 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 12-10 win in four-hours, 17-minutes.


Written by Henry Wancke notas_de_prensa_archivo