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Falla took advantage of Simon's injury

Things worked out quite well for the Colombian and now, for the second time this year, after achieving the same feat in Bogota, he has a chance to make it all the way to the quarterfinals. His opponent will be Nieminen, who put in an impressive performance in the first round

The Colombian played a decent match, although Simon and his inability to play a match on his level was the reason behind it. The Frenchman was unable to be consistent in his game so Falla only took what was offered to him. Simon's presence on the field was only of the physical kind. Before you know it he was already 4-0 behind. The Frenchman's service was awful as he had failed to allow a break-point only in one of his service games. Falla capitalized on that and secured a surprisingly easy win, the one he himself probably didn't expect. 

The fact that the Frenchman won just 22 points on his second serve speaks volumes about his game. He was better on his first service (68%) but the majority of those came directly after the service and the Colombian's errors on return. The Colombian played well enough to beat his opponent. He managed to save all five break-points that he allowed and he won 60% of points on both his services. However, in other circumstances and against a healthy and fit Simon that percentage would have been much lower and by the same token, the final result would have been completely different. 


In the second round he will play against Nieminen, who also didn't have too much trouble against Paire. Before the tournament, the Finn had announced he would play at his top level, provided that the calf injury didn't cause him too many problems. He has proven it to be true here as he defeated the Frenchman more easily than it was expected. The Frenchman, on the other hand, put in one of those performances that we have come accustomed to see from him. 


Nieminen broke Paire's service game right at the start and went 2-0 up. That was the indicator of how things would develop in the first set. The Finn lost just four points on his service, while his success rate following his second service 100% /6/6). After the aforementioned break, the set was dominated by good service games from both players. There were no more break-points so Nieminen was one set up after just 20 minutes. The second set proved to be the copy of the first as the Finn broke the Frenchman's service game early and he confirmed his win with yet another break. It took him less than one hour. 


He didn't allow Paire a single break-point and his return was perfect (3/3). He had 70% of first service completion, winning 80% of points following those services. As usual, he didn't have many errors, unlike the Frenchman. The only segment in which Pair was superior to Nieminen were aces (7/2) but that proved to be insufficient to win the match. 


This will be the first encounter of these two left-handed players. The Finn is a much better player and all things considered he should not have too much trouble with the Colombian, who has found himself playing in the second round after a series of unforeseen circumstances. 

In spite of not having any noteworthy results lately, the Finnish tennis player demonstrated he prefers such conditions. The high bounce of the ball gives him plenty of time for a good return, and he can move in and use his great forehand to maximum effect. He applied this strategy against Paire in the first round, and he is after all superior to Falla. His service was great as well, and did not give a single break point. He announced he will perform well before the tournament started, and proved it by now, so that we can expect him to fare even better if it can get any better than this. The Colombian player had a injured opponent, but he still gave five break points. His gameplay is hard to evaluate since he did not play under normal circumstances. Most players he is pitted against have problems due to his left handedness, but Nieminnen is also left-handed. In my opinion, the Finnish player is a big favorite here, maybe bigger than the odds would have it. If he repeats the gameplay he gave in the first round, which I believe he will, the Colombian will have troubles winning a set let alone the match.