Thiago Pereira came from a set down to beat Rudolf Molleker 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 in Szczecin, surviving a match that hinged on break points rather than clean serving. Molleker hit more aces (11 to 8) and landed a higher first-serve percentage (74% to 61%), but Pereira saved 10 of 14 break points to his opponent's 3 of 6.
Molleker took control of the opener, breaking at 0-1, 1-2 and 1-4 and reeling off four straight games while converting three break points to Pereira's one. The second set turned on Pereira's serving: he saved all three break points he faced, won 81% of his first-serve points and broke back at 6-4 to level the match. The decider ran level through breaks at 4-4 and again at 6-6 before going to a tiebreak.
Pereira's second-serve reliability was the standout number: he put 43 of 44 second serves in play across the match and never double-faulted after the second set, finishing with just one for the day. He was outgunned on aces and on return points won (29 to 45), yet won more service points, 69 to 58.