David Ferrer struggles on ahead while Mikhail Youzhny crashes out – US Open 2011
Spaniard David Ferrer survived a first set scare against Russian Igor Andreev as the pair met for their first round match at the 2011 US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York on Tuesday, 30th August.
The pair battled it out for nearly two hours before the Spaniard emerged victorious with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 win over the lower ranked Russian.
In their ninth meeting on tour, Ferrer was able to go one up in their previously tied head-to-head score, though he almost didn’t.
Kicking off the first set, Ferrer got off to a slow start as the Russian bested the Spaniard’s every move. Successfully converting two of two breakpoint opportunities to his advantage, Andreev hit an amazing 87 percent win on his
first serve with nine winners and two aces securing a 6-2 win and 1-0 lead in the set score.
However, the Russian’s happiness was short-lived. Down but not out, Ferrer bounced back in the second set as he fought back long and hard before closing out the set with a 6-3 win, bringing the set score on even terms.
The in-form Spaniard continued his assault on the Russian. Reducing Andreev’s first serve win to a mere 33 percent, Ferrer held the Russian to zero games as he sped to a bagel victory in the third set with only four winners, one
ace and eight unforced errors.
Enjoying a two set lead, it came as much surprise to spectators and fans alike when Andreev put up a fierce battle in the fourth set. Matching blow for blow, Andreev kept the score ticking on even terms for the first eight games.
It was only in the ninth that he hit a costly double fault giving away a breakpoint opportunity to the Spaniard. Jumping at the chance, Ferrer secured a 5-4 lead before serving out the set to ensure his survival at the event.
Ferrer now moves on ahead to play local James Blake or Dutch qualifier Jesse Huta Galung.
Following in the footsteps of his compatriot, sixteenth seed Mikhail Youzhny crashed out of the season ending Grand Slam in the opening round as he lost to Latvian Ernests Gulbis in straight sets. Hanging on for nearly three hours,
Youzhny never got the upper hand in the match as he lost 2-6, 4-6, 4-6 to the unseeded, yet fast rising, Latvian. Gulbis now makes his way into the second round where he will play Luxembourger Gilles Muller.
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