Donald Young surprises Gael Monfils to secure title round spot – PTT Thailand Open 2011
American Donald Young upset second French Gael Monfils in troublesome three sets at the PTT Thailand Open, an ATP World Tour 250 series event held at the Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok, Thailand. He registered a 4-6,
7-6(5), 7-6(5) victory over the top ten player to reach the final on Friday.
Ranked 55th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings, Young made an epic comeback from a set down to conquer the world number nine in two hours and forty-six minutes on their second meeting. He not only avenged
his loss at Cincinnati in 2008 but also levelled the head-to-head series by 1-1 against Monfils.
25-year-old Frenchman quickly bagged in entire serves through exquisite forehands and without facing any breakpoint. He then converted one out of two breakpoint opportunities to his advantage in the ninth game to win the opener
with a 6-4 score line. He produced a lower first serve share of 54 percent as compared to Young’s 74 percent but earned tremendous 67 percent win on it.
The Chicago native Young kept astray in the second set and gifted away his serve in the opening game to trail 0-1. He snatched it back in the proceeding game and broke Monfils’ serve again in fifth game to extend lead by 3-2. However,
the American again lost his edge in the eighth game and eventually took the set to a tie-breaker. He prevailed in it to seal the equaliser with a 7-6(5) win. Young formulated a better first serve share of 71 percent as opposed to Frenchman’s 64 percent and
registered a convincing 53 percent win on it.
22-year-old American geared up well in the final set and regardless of getting the first blood in the opening game, he went 4-1 down after losing next four games in a row. Young again broke Monfils’ serve in the seventh game and
then held remaining serves to drag the set to a tie-breaker. The delighted youngster dominated on the court in it to pocket the decider with a 7-6(5) win.
Next challenge for Young is the winner of the match between top seeded British Andy Murray and third seeded French Gilles Simon. If the American continues his way, he can clinch the title comfortably.
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