Photo: Craig Gabriel
Jeremy Chardy once again got the better of Marcos when their pair met for a third time in the first-round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Monday. In a rain-interrupted clash on Grandstand, the Frenchman defeated Marcos 7-6(4), 6-1.
Marcos began the match well and was in a good rhythm on serve as he worked his way into the match at 3-3. However, the match was then interrupted by a lengthy rain delay, and an even longer waiting period ensued while tournament staff towel-dried the court. After the break, Marcos struggled to regain his rhythm and despite saving five break points in his opening game, was broken at the sixth attempt by Chardy.
Marcos got back on level terms in the 10th game, benefitting from a pair of forehand errors from his French opponent, and was then denied on two set point opportunities in the 12th game as Chardy held strong to force a tie-break. As was the case in the three previous tie-breaks they had played, though, Chardy found the winning solution as a good approach to the net earned him the decisive mini-break for a 5-3 lead, and two big serves for the right-hander sealed a one-set lead.
Chardy was quick to build on his momentum, playing a smart game to break serve at the start of the second set and, after recovering from a 0/40 deficit in the third game, he did not allow Marcos any more opportunities to get back into the match. He went on to wrap up victory in one hour and 39 minutes.
The defeat brings to an end Marcos’ time in Asia. He will now have just under a week to practise before his next tournament begins in Moscow on Monday, 18th October.
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