Alex Bogomolov exits from the French Open due to cramps: Tennis Special
Russian star, Alex Bogomolov, exited from the French Open 2012, second of the four Grand Slam event held in Paris, after retiring from his match against the local wildcard entrant, Arnaud Clement. The French was leading 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(2), 5-4 when Bogomolov
was forced to withdraw from the tournament.
Bogomolov showed solid tennis and apart from losing the opening set, he made a fitting reply and conquered the following two sets. Despite losing in the fourth set tie-breaker, the Russian was serving for his serve in at 4-5 when he was forced to pull out
from the tournament due to cramps in his right thigh.
"I could not move my legs. You don't get a medical timeout for cramps," the Russian stated in a post-match press conference. "My whole leg was straight. I couldn't bend it. I couldn't walk. I didn't want to risk a potential ligament damage or something.
And you can't get a trainer for that."
The world number 139 made quick in-roads and pulled out the opener with a 6-2 score line. After the Russian held his serve in the fourth game, Clement reeled off the last four games in a row and took the early lead.
The 29-year-old on the other hand re-structured in the following set. He got the desiderated break in the fifth game and kept his entire serves with poise. Bogomolov capitalised on another break chance in the last game and bagged the set by winning six games
to three.
Bogomolov kept momentum sailing in the third set and after warding off the only breakpoint he faced, the Russian held his entire serves. He got the breakthrough in the last game by cashing in lone break chance and clinched the set with a 6-4 score line.
Clement found his track again in the fourth set and snatched an early break to leap to a 2-0 lead. Apart from levelling the scores at 5-5, he dragged the set to the tie-breaker and jumped to a 4-0 lead in it before clobbering a 7-6(2) win.
Ranked 46th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Bogomolov sought his rhythm again in the final set and took a 3-2 lead after earning the coveted break. Despite losing his edge in the very next game, he remained consistent and
was serving at 4-5 when he felt severe pain and was forced to retire.
As a result, the Frenchman not only avenged his loss at the Aptos Challenger three years ago but also set up a date with the Belgian lucky loser, David Goffin, who stunned 23rd seeded Radek Stepanek in a five-set thriller to set up this duel.
All in all, the Russian formulated a better first serve share of 73 per cent in contrast with the local contestant’s 56 per cent and impressively availed 84 out of 128 points on it. He also committed fewer unforced errors and brilliantly saved 14 out of
18 breakpoints he faced.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: