Carlos Moya moves into final as Mark Philippoussis crashes out – Chengdu Open 2011
Surprising turn of events in the afternoon session on Friday, 28th October at the 2011 Chengdu Open when Spaniard Carlos Moya moved into the pole position while Aussie Mark Philippoussis came crashing out of the event with an abysmal 0-2 win loss mark for the event. The legends and tennis stars are coming back to the courts after a two month break to play on the Chengdu Open, an event on the ATP Champions Tour.
Kicking off day 2 off the event was former world number one, Moya of Spain. Coming into the match Moya stood at a 1-0 win loss mark while his opponent, the Thai giant Paradorn Srichapan stood at a negative 0-1.
Moya had earlier played Mark Philippoussis on Thursday, where he defeated the Aussie in straight sets recording a simple 7-5, 6-2 win. Extending his winning streak and gunning for the top position in the rankings, current number two Moya sailed through his second round robin match as he recorded yet another simple straight sets win.
Capitalising on four of four break point opportunities in the entire match, Moya recorded a twin set score of 6-2, 6-2 over the Thai. Srichapan had also lost his opening match here, falling to Aussie Thomas Enqvist.
With a 2-0 win loss mark and a 4-0 set win loss mark, Moya now moves into the pole position to qualify for a spot in the title match here.
While Moya moves into the pole position of his group, Aussie Philippoussis crashed to the bottom of his group losing his second straight match here. Falling to Moya in his opening match, the Aussie lost his second match here as he played compatriot, Enqvist.
However, kudos to Philippoussis for matching blow to blow forcing the match into a Champions Tiebreak (CT). Bouncing back from a set down, Enqvist battled past two tiebreakers as he clinched the match in the CT. Progressing on even footing, Enqvist eventually lost the first set in the tiebreaker with a 4-7 defeat. Down but not out, Enqvist pushed the second set into another tiebreaker, this time securing an 8-6 victory to bring the set scores to even terms.
A set win a piece forced the match into a CT with both the Australians going toe-to-toe in the score. However, capitalising on a mini-break, Enqvist was able to edge to a 10-6 victory as he reeled off four straight points to seal a three set victory.
Enqvist now joins Moya in the pole position as he sports a 2-0 win loss mark. Enqvist will now play his final round robin match on Saturday, 28th October against Moya. The winner of this match will move into the title match while the loser will move on ahead to play for the 3rd 4th position.
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