Alessandro Giannessi upsets Sergiy Stakhovsky in qualifiers – Monte-Carlo Rolex Master 2012
Italian contender, Alessandro Giannessi, rallied past the qualifying third seed, Sergiy Stakhovsky, in a three set thriller at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Master 2012 on Sunday. He nudged up a 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-0 victory against the world number 70 to labour into
the final qualifying round at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Monaco.
Giannessi lost his track in the second set but went berserk in the final set to pull out the victory in almost two hours. After pocketing this match, the Italian advanced into the final round of the qualifying competition at this ATP (Association of Tennis
Professionals) clay court event.
The 21-year-old high-spiritedly entered this ATP World Tour Master 1000 event and regardless of losing his serve once, he broke his rival’s serve three times to seal the opener with a 6-2 win. He blocked one out of two breakpoints he faced and cashed in
three out of six break opportunities to prevail.
The Ukrainian tennis star failed to save the lone breakpoint he encountered in the second set but capitalised on one out of six break opportunities to drag the set to the tie-breaker. He outclassed Giannessi in it and clinched the equaliser with a 7-6(4)
score line.
Ranked 136th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Giannessi perfected his game in the final set. He swiftly swiped in his entire serves without facing any barrier and cashed in all three break chances to pull out the decider with
a bagel.
All in all, the Italian took full advantage of the eight double faults Stakhovsky committed. He produced a lower first serve share of 64 per cent as opposed to the Ukrainian’s 73 per cent and brilliantly availed 39 out of 55 points on it.
The qualifying second seed, Mikhail Kukushkin, eased past the French contestant, Arnaud Clement, to reach the final qualifying round. He smoothly held his entire serves and broke the French’s serve four times to earn the spotlight. The Kazakh produced an
amazing first serve share of 71 per cent as opposed to Clement’s 59 per cent and availed 27 out of 42 points on it.
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