Ugo Carabelli past Simakin 2-1 in Shanghai despite 47% first serves

47 percent. That was Camilo Ugo Carabelli's first-serve accuracy in Shanghai — under half — and it did not stop him beating Ilia Simakin 2-1 (2-6, 6-2, 7-5) in the Round of 128.

The start could hardly have gone worse. Ugo Carabelli dropped the opener 2-6 with three double faults, no aces and only 10 service points won against Simakin's 19. He saved zero of the two break points he faced and created nothing on return, while Simakin broke twice and saved the one break point against him.

The response was immediate. Set two delivered four aces, zero double faults and a flawless 4-for-4 on break points saved, with Ugo Carabelli converting two of six chances to level the match at 6-2. The decider was tighter: aces level at two apiece, return points split 18-18, five break chances for each man. Ugo Carabelli saved three and took three, and Simakin's serve wobbled with four double faults as Ugo Carabelli closed it out 7-5.

The spotlight belongs to Ugo Carabelli's serve reset. From a first set with three double faults and no aces, he finished with six aces and just three double faults in total — none after the opener — and piled up 22 and 24 service points in sets two and three. He also out-converted on break points, 5 to 4. The scorecard's oddity: Simakin won more first-serve points, 46 to 32, and landed 69 percent of first serves to 47, yet lost. Ugo Carabelli made up the gap on second serves and in the return games that counted, edging the totals 99-94 in points and 15-13 in games.

Fewer first serves, fewer first-serve points, same seven break points saved — and still through. Serve well when it matters; the rest is decoration.