Jan Hajek beats Jaroslav Pospisil to enter semi-finals – Sparkassen Open 2011 CH

Jan Hajek of Czech Republic effortlessly reached the semi-finals of Sparkassen Open 2011 with a straight-forward 6-4, 6-4 victory over compatriot Jaroslav Pospisil on Friday.

Fatigue did not seem to overly trouble the Czech as he broke in the early stages of the game against an opponent ranked 133th in the world.

Hajek, hoping to reclaim a title he won in 2006, broke early in the second set and easily serves out the match. Pospisil served well throughout but offered little in the
way of real threat, apart from a solitary break-back point at 3-2 in the second set, which Hajek saved easily.

Hajek was the better player over-all, getting the better of an opponent who committed a lot of errors throughout the match. Both players were aggressive in their game but
Hajek was slightly more persistent and determined than an up and down Pospisil, who promptly hit six double faults to lose his sizeable 4-3 lead in the opener. The Czech pro completely governed the opener whereas his opponent lacked the intensity to compete
losing the opener with six games to four.

The 27-year-old Hajek was completely active and played his brand of tennis to clinch the second set with the same score. He eased past his compatriot with the minimum of
fuss winning the second set with majority of scores. One of Pospisil’s two double faults came as he served to stay in the match at 5-3, but he was able to urge his more knowledgeable opponent to serve for the match.

He did not allow Pospisil to pick up big points, who did manage to put 50 percent of first serves into play but only won a meager 46 percent on service whereas Hajek won
53 percent on his service, proving himself the stronger player on serves especially in the second set.

Hajek was himself broken five times but he was far more solid than Pospisil, winning 57 percent on his service points and 52percent on return.

Hajek always held the upper hand in the match, but Pospisil’s ability to hold his serve was impressive against a player, who already had claimed the title. However, the
determined Czech proved his mettle and got the job done in two hour and seven minutes with a 6-4, 6-4 scoreline.

The world number 178 will play third-seeded Lukas Rosol in the semi-finals, after the Czech player fought back to beat sixth-seeded Thomas Schoorel 7-6(5), 6 -7(7), 6-1.