Cedrik-Marcel Stebe upsets Viktor Troicki in opening round – US Open 2012
German challenger, Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, stomped over the 29th seed, Viktor Troicki from Serbia, in a marathon four sets at the Flushing Meadows 2012 on Wednesday. He nudged up a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 success against the seeded Serb to breeze into
the second round at this major hard court event held in Corona Park in Queens, United States.
The German youngster displayed top class tennis to overpower the seed in their first encounter. After bagging the match in two hours and 34 minutes, Stebe assertively entered the round of 64 at this final of the four Grand Slam events.
The 21-year-old made a powerful entry at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. He amazingly brushed off all four breakpoints he came across to keep his entire serves. The German capitalised on one out of two break opportunities and clinched the
opener with a 6-4 score line.
Ranked 97th in the South African Airways ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour Rankings, Stebe lost his track towards the second set. He suffered the first blow in the fourth game to trail at 1-3. However, The German quickly recovered
in the very next game and then held his remaining serves with conviction. He cashed in another break chance in the ninth game to get the breakthrough and seal the set with a 6-4 win.
The world number 30 on the other hand rebounded in the third set. He swiped his entire serves without facing any hindrance and with a single break of serve in the sixth game, Troicki clinched the set with a 6-3 score line.
Stebe found his rhythm again in the follow-up set despite enduring the initial loss. He gifted away his serve in the opening game but winded up the following four games in a row. After Troicki held his serve for the first time in this set, the German pocketed
the last two games and registered the victory with a 6-2 score line.
Up next for Stebe is the Slovenian qualifier, Grega Zemlja, who plonked his fellow qualifier, Brazil’s Ricardo Mello, in straight sets to set up this epic battle.
Tags: