Egor Gerasimov rallies past Richard Muzaev into the main draw – Siberia Cup 2012 CH
Fourth seed, Egor Gerasimov of Belarus, scored a hard fought win over the fifth seeded player from Russia, Richard Muzaev, in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final round of the qualifying draw at the Siberia Cup in Tyumen, Russia.
The Belarusian participant reached the victory line in an hour and 20 minutes and booked his place in the main round.
Gerasimov and Muzaev did not allow each other to break serve in the first eight games, levelling the score at 4-4. The Russian contestant stung a break in the ninth and consolidated on it to win 6-4.
Muzaev smacked one ace and made equal number of double fault in the opener. The Russian national had a very good first serve percentage and an even better conversion rate. The 20-year-old kept his first delivery percentage at 71
and grabbed 14 of the 17 points on them.
Carrying the winning momentum into second set, Muzaev hit a blow to his Belarusian rival in the third game and held his following serve to go up 3-1. Though, the Russian player’s lead was short lived, as he lost three back to back
and went down 3-4. Muzaev could not hold his serve in the 10th game and lost it 4-6.
Gerasimov hit two aces and committed one double fault, keeping his first serve percentage at 54. The Belarusian contender was almost error free on the first delivery points, winning 12 of the 13. The right-hander also troubled
Muzaev with the help of aggressive second returns, as he pocketed five of the eight points on them. Gerasimov was unable to put away the only break threat he came across and availed two of the three chances he got in the second set.
It was looking like the decider would go to the maximum distance, as Gerasimov and Muzaev held their serve in the first seven games to take the score to 4-3 in favour of the Belarusian player. However, Gerasimov managed to make
a breakthrough in the eighth and capitalised on it to triumph 6-3.
The Belarusian participant will face Nigmat Shofayziyev in the first match of the main round.
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