Donald Young stuns Marcos Baghdatis in quarter-final – Legg Mason Tennis Classic 2011
Starting off on Friday, 5th August was the quarter-final round of Legg Mason Tennis Classic 2011. The hard court at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Centre in Rock Creek Park was shined up as the local lad, Donald
Young came up to prove himself once again, this time against the world No.26 Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus. Ending the match in less than one and a half hour Young stormed Baghdatis 6-3, 7-6(4).
The quarter-final characterized more than just brilliant tennis; it personified the typical American spirit. The unseeded Young was the first to bring the crowd to its feet defeating the seventh seed Marcos Baghdatis to make it
to the ATP World Tour Semi-final for the first time ever.
Playing in his first ATP World Tour quarterfinal since February 2008, No. 128 Young opened the match as a clear small fry against No. 26 Baghdatis, who had 175 additional career wins. Young, whose 19-53 career record has barely
met the opportunity cast upon him, accredited a mindset change as a reason for his success.
The 22-year-old went up opening the first set strong. Knowing the capabilities of his mighty challenger, Young speculated a different strategy gaining the one crucial breakpoint win and retaining the lead then on. The underdog
served precisely to win 2 aces over the World No.26. With 21 service points and 6 returners, Young subjugated a remarkable win in the first set dissipating the Cypriot 6-3.
Although the straight sets triumph may propose otherwise, Young’s resilience in the second set a spectacular come-from-behind feel. After tumbling in the first 3 games of set 1, Young fought back to win the then four. Baghdatis
regained his energy after sweeping the eleventh game to go ahead 6-5, but the 22-year-old refused to hold back during a concluding stretch that went back and forth in a splendid fashion.
“I feel great today,” Young said. “I’ve reached my first semi-final and to come through beating the quality of players I have beaten this week, I feel great and very excited and hopefully I can keep on moving forward.”
Young also benefitted from the pre-match exhaustion of his adversary. Baghdatis played two games Thursday, beating Thomas Bellucci 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 and Somdev Devvarman earlier in the day, 6-2, 0-6, 7-5.Young, on the other hand, played
only two sets that day in a 6-3, 6-3 win against Michael Russell.
With his 6-3, 7-6(4) win over the Cypriot, Donald Young now sits in the semis to play against the Czech Radek Stephanek for a spot in the final.
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