Andreas Seppi upsets Igor Andreev in opening round – Kremlin Cup 2011
Andreas Seppi, Italian world No.53, battled past Igor Andreev, Russian world No. 115, as the two played the opening round match of Kremlin Cup 2011 on Monday, 17th October, at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Ending
in two hours and five minutes, the Italian made an astonishing comeback as he secured a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) win to move into the second round.
The great rivalry continued with the first round fixture, as the two played the 10th head-to-head fixture. Andreev had been dominating the fight with 6 wins, however, the Italian slowly gained back to 4 against 6 including
the first round Kremlin Cup match.
With the two taking their positions, Seppi won the toss and served the first game of the match, however, the Italian could not capitalize dropping down early in the game, 0-1. Andreev took the advantage and served out next to lead
the set 2-0.
Winning his first, the Italian scores his first win, however, was unable to break back any soon. The 28-year-old lower ranked contender served-broke-served again thrashing the Italian with 3 more games and left out with just one
more win to pocket the set, 5-1. Serving out a game each next, Russian world No.115 took out set 1, 6-2, and onto the next.
With the match flaring up, the two took off with set 2 with Seppi serving out first again but this time he manage to escape with a win, 1-0. Saving a break point, Andreev levelled up, 1-1. The Italian served out game 3, 2-1, and
broke the Russian for the first time in the match, 3-1.
Winning a triple game point, Seppi stormed up the scoreboard, 4-1, and commanded the set. Cutting down the lead, Andreev won his 2nd game of the set, however, was unable to break the Italian. Serving out two out of the
next three games, Seppi levelled up the match scores at 1-1 winning set 2, 6-3, and moved on to the decider set.
Andreev, under pressure, served first for the decider. The world No.53 took control and broke the world No.115 early and took advantage of the breakpoint as he served out game 2 to lead the set 2-0. Maintaining the lead for the
next seven games, the scores were now 5-4, with Seppi left with just one more game to finish off the match.
With a surprising breakpoint win, Andreev levelled up and served out game 11 to lead the set, 6-5. Watching the tables turning, the higher ranked counterpart reacted and forced the set into a tiebreaker. Capitalizing over the 28-year-old,
Seppi bagged the tiebreaker, 7-4, to win the set, 7-6(4) and the match, 2-1.
Making it into round two of the ATP World Tour 250 event, Seppi will now play against the winner of the match between German, Michael Berrer and Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine.
Tags: