2010 AEGON Masters Tennis competition; Highlights from Thursday
The former Canadian tennis ace, Greg Rusedski got the better of Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the round robin clash of the 2010 AEGON Masters Tennis competition in two sets on Thursday. The final match score was 6-4, 6-2.
Contesting in his third competition of the year, Rusedski currently enjoys the ninth place in the Champions Tour Rankings with a total of 550 points. The right hander finished fourth out of eight at the Algarve competition after
losing the 3rd/4th clash to Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia.
Kafelnikov, on the other hand, is competing in his sixth of eleven tournaments this year. In spite of the fact that he did make it past the opening round at Delray Beach and Zurich, he has failed to reach the finals of any event
in 2010. He currently enjoys higher rankings than his opponent in the ATP Champions Tour rankings, as he is placed at number seven with a total of 710 points.
Rusedski overpowered his foe in straight sets to confirm his berth in the quarterfinal round in London. The Russian put up quite a fight during the opening set, keeping the scores levelled for eight games. However, Rusedski at
4-4 got a break and as a result took next two games in a row, thus winning the set at 6-4 in the end.
With a lead of one set, Rusedski played with much more confidence and looked highly determined and as a result sealed victory in the end. Kafelnikov, by virtue of this defeat, exited the competition at 0-2.
Meanwhile, in the doubles action, Mansour Bahrami along with his partner Mark Woodforde met the tandem of Peter McNamara and Peter Fleming on the centre court. These doubles contests hold no standing in the competition and are
only played for entertainment purposes.
Elsewhere, Henri Leconte of France thrashed out the local favourite Jeremy Bates in two sets on Thursday. In a close match between the two, Henri finally managed a straight set victory over Bates. In the first set, Bates did well
to keep the score levelled at 4-4. However, the Frenchman got a break during the ninth game and won the next two games in a row to clinch the first set at 6-4.
Despite losing the opening set, Bates did not give up and once again managed to keep the scores levelled for ten games. At 5-5, Henri took two consecutive games to wrap up the battle with a final score line of 7-5.
Henri, as a result of this victory, also moved into the quarterfinal round at the 2010 AEGON Masters Tennis competition in London.
In another evening session match, Juan Martin was brushed aside by the defending champion Pat Rafter in two sets. The final match score was 6-3, 7-5.
The match started equally well for both the contenders as the score was levelled until 3-3 in the opening set. However, earning a break later, Pat took six games in a row to win the set at 6-3.
Determined to give the last year’s winner a difficult time, Martin did not give up and played with more attacking strategy to keep the scores level in ten games. However, Pat once again managed to dominate and with his superior
quality of play won the second set with a score line of 7-5.
As a result of this straight set victory, the former top ranked Australian sailed his way into the final eight in London. Defeat for Martin, however, does not mean his exit from the event as had already made it into the quarters.
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