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SteemSports Writer: @writingamigo

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SteemSports General Manager: Nolan Jacobson, @theprophet0, STEEM Witness, PeerPlays Witness & DECENT Miner (Witness)

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Final result: Darcis beat Berankis 4-6 6-3 2-6 6-4 6-3 after the five-set drama


Key factor: Berankis choked... once again. In my eyes, it was not Darcis winning but Berankis losing this match.


The opponent he will face in the next round: Steve Darcis will face David Ferrer in 1/32 and from today's results, he will have close to no chances against the experienced Spaniard.


Player spotlight - Ricardas Berankis

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Ricardas Berankis is the best Lithuanian player in history, so naturally, I follow every of his step and support him as much as I can. Sadly, Ricardas Berankis is yet to find himself as a world-class player. He is now 27 and is no. 196 in the world. However, he was top 50 (career high) last season before his right hip's injury. Berankis had to miss most of the season last year and only came back to courts recently. His game is not like it used to be just yet.

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The whole Lithuania expected much more from Ricardas Berankis, because he was already in the top 80 by the age of 21, in 2011. It looked like he would go on to become at least a solid top 20 player, but that is when his injuries become. Whenever Ricardas Berankis caught some momentum, a new injury would come and throw him back a few years behind. It must be tough to be a tennis player as you are always on the road and you have to win to earn some money. Also, when you get injured - nobody gives a damn as the tour continues and people just forget you.

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Set 1

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Ricardas Berankis started the game more aggressively and served pretty well. However, he failed to break Steve Darcis early on in the set, and after 15 minutes of the game, we had an equal result 2-2. That is when Steve Darcis failed to break Ricardas' serve and lost his own serve in the next game - Berankis took the lead 4:2. However, Darcis regrouped and tied the set again 4:4. Both players are not the best servers (Ricardas Berankis is only 5'9" (175cm), so it was interesting to see them playing those rallies on grass. This time, Berankis found some magic late in the first set and won it 6-4.

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Set 2

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Steve Darcis was not backing up after losing the first set and broke Ricardas' serve in the first game of the second set. It was a pretty strange game as Ricardas failed to get his serves in the game and also made some silly unforced errors. The set continued with Darcis' domination as Ricardas Berankis could not find the rhythm on his serve and was broken two more times. Steve Darcis, the favorite of the match, won the second set. However, Ricardas Berankis still looked a little stronger than Darcis, mainly because of his solid play near the net. Darcis, on the other hand, placed more power on his shots, which was hard for Berankis to defend.

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Set 3

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The third set was a perfect example why Ricardas Berankis was once one of the most promising players on tour. Berankis returned all of the Darcis' shots, played aggressively near the net, and defended his serve as if he was Isner or Karlovic. Berankis capitalized on 2 of his 8 break point opportunities and won the set 6-2. Steve Darcis looked really bad in this set as he was making stupid unforced errors, and his first serve percentage dropped to miserable 58 percents. Also, Berankis dominated Darcis in long rallies with his backhand down the line and beautiful volleys.

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Set 4

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Steve Darcis started the fourth set as a new man. He was more aggressive and concentrated about his shots. It looked like Ricardas Berankis could not find a way to break through Darcis and that caused many unforced errors. Steve Darcis took the lead 4-1. However, that is when Berankis defended a couple of his serves and found a way to break back Steve Darcis with some nice plays near the net. Steve Darcis was not expecting that at all. When Ricardas Berankis was serving to stay in the fourth set (5-4), it seemed like we would see the first tie-break in the match as both players were pretty comfortable with their serves at that moment. However, Ricardas Berankis pulled out his choke card and started making unreasonable shots and stupid mistakes. Steve Darcis only had to watch how Berankis flushed the fourth set down the toilet. Darcis won 6-4, and we headed to the fifth and the final set.

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Set 5

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Both players started the fifth set fully aware of its importance. It looked like Steve Darcis was playing a little better as Berankis was still making some unforced errors, but both players took care of their serves, and we headed to the sixth game with Darcis leading 3-2. The sixth game was the decisive one. Steve Darcis broke Ricardas Berankis in his fifth try and took the lead 4-2. I was not disappointed by the fact that Darcis prevailed, but I was really mad at Berankis for making those stupid unforced errors when it mattered the most. It looked like Ricardas Berankis was not prepared to win and had this thought in his head saying, "Mate, you cannot do it. You won't make it. You won't hit this ball." So again, Ricardas Berankis gave away his serve to Darcis and after that, it was just a formality - Steve Darcis 6-3 Berankis. One point in particular, when Ricardas Berankis failed to even hit a ball with his racket, showed how un-confident he was, and there is no chance win a match in Wimbledon without any confidence.

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Final result, 3-2, in Steve Darcis' favor. Ricardas Berankis is now packing his luggage back home, while Steve Darcis is getting rested for the match against David Ferrer, in which, with all due respect, I cannot see Darcis winning at least one set.

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