Barclays ATP World Tour Finals; Semi-final Preview- Matkowski/ Fyrstenberg versus Mirnyi/ Bhupathi
In the second doubles semi-final match of the day, the Polish side of Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg, will meet Max Mirnyi and Mahesh Bhupathi on the centre court at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday. Marcin
and Mariusz prevented a total of three match points versus the Bryan Brothers in their concluding round robin play to advance into the final four stage in London.
Max and Mahesh, previously made it into the season finale back in 2003 and 04, going 1-2 each season and not reaching out of round robin stage. Both of them, however, did well to finish number two this week in Group B with a 2-1
round robin mark. They opened their tournament’s campaign with a two setter victory over Kubot-Marach. The final match score was 7-6, (2) 6-4.
In their second round robin clash, Max along Mahesh fell down at the hands of Nestor-Zimonjic with a score line of 7-6,(5) 7-6(1) before emerging victorious to Moodie-Norman in straight sets in their last round robin clash at the
elite eight team field in England.
The Belarusian and veteran Indian pair regrouped in 2010 on the very first occasion since 2004 and successfully made their way into their third year-end competition together. They previously played here back in 2003 and 04.
They reached a total of five title battles in 2010 including four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments. The tandem posted their best result of the season by winning a title at the ATP Masters 1000 Paris after getting the better
of Ram-Knowles in the finals in straight sets.
Their other season highlights include, runner up effort in Miami, Monte-Carlo, Cincinnati, Valencia and semi final showing in Toronto and New Heaven.
At the grass court Grand Slam tournament in London, Max and Mahesh were bundled out of the competition in the third round. This is their last event as a pair as Mahesh made an announcement a week ago that he will play with Leander
Paes in 2011.
Matkowski and Fyrstenberg, on the other hand, are the only unbeaten side with 3-0 in the round robin play this week in London. They are on top of Group A with victories over Paes-Dlouhy, Bryan Brothers and Jurgen-Philipp.
The Polish tandem won their first match against Paes-Dlouhy in two sets with a score line of 6-3, 7-6(3), followed by a three setter win over Bryan brothers. The final match score was 2-6, 7-6(4), 10-8. In their concluding round
robin match, Matkowski along with his partner Fyrstenberg overpowered Jurgen-Philipp in straight sets with a score line of 7-6(5), 6-3.
They own a lifetime mark of 6-7 in the season finale and this is their second final four appearance in the last four years on the tour. They previously lost at the hands of Bryan brothers in the semi-final stage back in 2008. In
their debut run here four years ago, Matkowski and Fyrstenberg couldn’t even win a single match at the round robin play, however, were 1-2 last year.
The Polish tandem made it into the elite eight team field in London on the fourth occasion in last five seasons. They got to a slow start in 2010 before picking up their only crown in Eastbourne after getting the better of Fleming-Skupski
in straight sets in the final.
Both the right hander’s, however, couldn’t continue their form and struggled in their next six events on the tour with a record of 2-6 until playing the year’s final Grand Slam, the US Open in New York back in September where they
finished as quarter finalists to Bryan Brothers.
Last month, Matkowski and Fyrstenberg reached a total of four finals in a row, including three on Asian swing. They stormed into the title battle in Malaysian Open, China Open and Shanghai Rolex Masters in China.
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