The first main draw match at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters saw Jeremy Chardy and Andrey Kuznetsov go head-to-head. They last met at Indian Wells when the Russian came out on top. This time it was Chardy who came away with the win, defeating Kuznetsov 7-6(3), 7-5 in one hour and 52 minutes.
Chardy Wins Set in Tiebreak
Jeremy Chardy started the match quickly, breaking Kuznetsov in the second game. However, he couldn't consolidate and Kuznetsov got the break back immediately on his fourth break point in a lengthy game that saw the Frenchman save two break points before surrendering. Chardy wasn't allowing the Russian to get back on level terms and raced away to a 0-40 lead. Kuznetsov saved one break point, but couldn't stop Chardy from breaking for the second time. At 5-3 with Kuznetsov serving, the 29-year old Frenchman fought to have his first set point. The Russian saved the point and held that game.
In the following game, Chardy failed to serve it out and his opponent, on his second break point, got the set back on serve. This time he managed to hold and the first set was level. Again Chardy held a set point and again Kuznetsov won the point and eventually held. The first set was decided in the tiebreak, with Chardy coming away a 7-3 victor. The Frenchman got the first mini-break at 2-0. He won the set on Kuznetsov's serve.
Number of Breaks Decide the Match
The first break point of the set went the way of Kuznetsov at 30-40, and he broke with his first chance. Havingt faultered when serving after breaking in the opening set, the Russian had no problems in doing so this time and went 0-3 up on Chardy as he looked to level and send the match to a decider. Chardy didn't panic and in the fifth game, he managed to break with his second chance and held his next service game and the set was back level.
The breaks of serve didn't stop there, when the ninth, tenth and eleventh games saw three breaks in total, with two going the way of the world number 34. Jeremy Chardy needed only one match point to clinch victory and book a spot in round two where he will face either Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci or Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
Match Stats
Jerem Chardy served eight aces and six double-faults during the set and won 69 percent of points on his first serves and 55 percent on his second. The Frenchman saved three of seven break points he faced (43 percent) and broke five out of ten times. He won 54 percent of total points.
Andrey Kuznetsov struggled to serve any aces and hit six double-faults He was impressive on his first serve winning 69 percent of points but was less than impressive on his second winning only thirty nine percent. The Russian save 50 percent of break pionts and broke 57 percent of the time (four out of seven). He won only 46 percent of total points.