Dmitry Tursunov crushes Laurent Rochette in qualifiers – US Open 2012
Seeded 25th in this qualifying event, Dmitry Tursunov from Russia devastated the French contender, Laurent Rochette, with a breadstick at the US Open 2012, last of the four Grand Slam events held in Queens, New York City. He jolted down a 6-1,
7-5 success against the 24-year-old to cruise into the final round at the qualifying competition on Thursday.
The former Top 20, Tursunov re-ignited his spark to outshine the Frenchman in their first encounter. After pulling out the victory, the Russian confidently advanced into the final qualifying round at this major hard court event held at Flushing Meadows.
Tursunov entered the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in high spirits. After Rochette held his serve in the second game, the Russian unleashed his true form and reeled off the last five games. With the help from two breaks of serve, he was able
to seal the opener with a breadstick.
Currently ranked 143rd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Tursunov lost his track towards the following set. He suffered the first blow in the sixth game and fell at 2-5. However, the Russian went berserk after that and stroke
out the last five games consecutively, consequently registering the success with a 7-5 score line.
Overall, the 29-year-old lost his serve once but prevailed over Rochette after breaking his serve four times.
He will face off the 15th seed, Daniel Brands, in the final qualifying round. The German seed battled past Chile’s Paul Capdeville in a three-set thriller to set-up this duel.
The qualifying top seed, Igor Sijsling, also stole the limelight later that day. He triumphed over Moldova’s Radu Albot in straight sets to progress.
Sijsling quickly winded up the opening four games before the Moldovan could come on the score sheet. Despite losing his edge in the sixth game, the Dutch bagged the opener with a 6-4 win.
The highest ranked player of the qualifying event, Sijsling lost his track towards the following set. However, he broke his opponent’s serve three times to register a 6-3 success.
The Dutch contender will next face the 27th seed, Josselin Ouanna, who hit back to outmuscle his compatriot, Vincent Millot, in a three-set nail-biter.
Tags: