Alex Bogomolov runs down Feliciano Lopez in opening round brawl – Valencia Open 2011
Alex Bogomolov, American world No.33, pulled off a startling winner against higher ranked Spaniard, Feliciano Lopez, ranked world No.21, beating him down 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) with a astonishing comeback in the second set. Playing at
Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, Valencia, Spain It took the American two hours and 18 minutes to finish off the opening round hard court match of Valencia Open 2011 on Wednesday, 2nd of November.
Commencing with the fixture, Bogomolov served the match opening rolling down the scoreboard, 1-0, with a double game point win. Following the world No.33, Lopez fired up an equalizer to level up the scores at 1-1. Spaniard veteran
ignited the set as he broke the 28-year-old next to lead the scoreboard, 2-1.
Extending his lead further, Lopez pulled off with a second consecutive win, 3-1, switching the serve back to his rival. Bogomolov did cut back the lead, however, was unable to break back any soon, 2-3. Maintaining the two games
lead, Lopez bagged another winner, 4-2, and was left with two more win to finish off with the set.
Bogomolov, unable to cut down the lead, eventually lost the set as the Spaniard world No.21 tore apart the first set winning, 6-4, and moved on to the next set.
Struggling in the opener, Bogomolov served first again for set two winning his first serve of the set saving a breakpoint, 1-0. Winning away the second game, Lopez stepped forward again as he broke the 28-year-old American once
again in game three, 2-1, and secured a comfortable two games lead bagging game four as well, 3-1.
American world No.33 struck back when he served out game 7, 3-4, and broke the higher ranked Spaniard in game eight to level the scores at 4-4. With two more game left to finish off for both the players, Bogomolov struck first
and final.
Serving out game nine, 5-4, world No.33 broke the higher ranked Spaniard in game ten, 6-4, finishing the set with a splendid breakpoint win. With the match scores levelling up, 1-1, the two went on to play the decider set.
For the third time in the match, Bogomolov served out the match starter and took out the advantage set, 1-0. Lopez kept on the Americans tail, evening out the scores at 1-1. Bagging games of respective serves, both equalled up
first at 2-2, and then at 3-3 before the fixture boiled up further.
Serving out game seven, 4-3, world No.21, Lopez, broke the lower ranked American in game eight to lead the set, 5-3. However, unable to take advantage of the breakpoint win, Lopez broke down next, 5-4, and lost game ten as the
scores were now at level, 5-5.
Winning a game each next, the set went into a tiebreaker. With the pressures increasing on every point, Bogomolov got the better of the Spaniard as he broke away in the first 5 points to lead the tiebreaker, 5-0. Winning just two
point in the tiebreaker, Lopez lost, 7-2, losing the third set, 7-6(2), and the match in a tough three set battle.
Through to the second stage with a marvellous win over the veteran Spaniard, Bogomolov now moves on to play against another Spaniard and rival, Juan Carlos Ferrero, formerly ranked world No.1, to battle out the quarter-final seat
of Valencia Open 2011.
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