Artem Sitak obliterates Nicolas Massu in final qualifier – Legg Mason Tennis Classic 2011
Legg Mason Tennis Classic 2011 continued with its final round qualifiers on Sunday, 31st July as Artem Sitak played the former world No.9 Nicolas Massu and won in straight sets 7-6(4), 6-2. The ATP World Tour 500 qualifier match was played at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Centre in Rock Creek Park, one of the 11 prestigious ATP 500 events.
The match started off with Massu opening for the first game and rolling the score card 1-0. Rivalling the Chilean, Sitak followed and levelled the scores to 1-1. The long set steadily proceeded as Sitak broke the Chilean first time in game 7 to lead the match 4-3. Winning the next game, the world No.387 extended his lead to 5-3. The Chilean broke back in game 10 and 12 to level the score at 6-6, a tiebreak.
Leading from the front, the 25-year-old won the tiebreak and the set 7-6(4) leading the set score 1-0.
The 1st set successor opened up the 2nd set. Winning the first game of the 2nd set, Sitak broke the Chilean in the second game to lead 2-0 in the start. Massu broke back to cut the lead to 2-1. The ex-world No.9 levelled the scores to 2-2 in the following game hoping to win the set but the odds were on the New Zealanders side.
Winning game 5 of the decider Sitak broke the 31-year-old second time in the set to change the game score to 4-2. Winning the next game and once again breaking the Chilean in game 8, Sitak took away the decider 6-2 and the match 7-6(4), 6-2.
Statistically, Massu struggled near the net and in his serve. Double faulting eight times, the Chilean gave away unwanted points to his rival. On the contrary, the 25-year-old aced the former world No.9 10 time’s altogether.
In total, Artem Sitak won 73 points together with 42 service points and 31 returners against 56 of Massu to bag the game. The 25-year-old broke the fighting spirit of the Chilean and dominated in both the sets. However, the New Zealander has yet to prove himself in the main draws as he plays Donald Young in the 1st round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
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