Monday, March 19, 2012

Guadalajara, Jalisco Open

I came back from Salinas back to Miami and decided to start training hard for the next challenger. I had 6 days. I put in 6 hours every day between time on the court and the gym and arrived to Guadalajara very prepared to play qualies.
Sometimes, when I qualify in the challenger , I play better in the main draw.
I didn't have tough qualies because the top seed got in the main draw automatically so I played low ranked player in the last round of qualies.
I drew the No 2 seed in the main draw, the player by the name Matthias Bachinger.
I never beat the player inside top 100 in my entire career. I knew that now it was a good opportunity. I'm playing in the high altitude against the player who is not very familiar with the peculiar conditions of high altitude tennis and not very comfortable with pressures. balls.
I stayed tough and won 64 64. It was probably one of the happiest days in my life. That win advanced me to the second round where I had an easier match against the Mexican Miguel Reyes-Varella. I player him before 2 times and both times beat him, so I was confident that I could win this match. The tournament organizers put me at night so the crowds could get behind Miguel, who was the only Mexican left in the draw.
I was nervous the first 20 minutes of the match and got broken a few times. I stayed in the match though and was able to raise my level. I won 63 61.
My next round opponent was Rajeev Ram. I played against him the year before and he beat me in straight sets.I knew that he was capable of playing some great tennis because he is a serve and volleyer and plays very aggressive style putting a lot of pressure on the opponent making constantly hit passing shots.

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