Evgeny Donskoy battles past Yuichi Sugita into 2nd round – L, G & T Tennis Challenger 2011
The world No156, Evgeny Donskoy of Russia, survived an unexpected sloppy display of tennis to squeak past battling Japanese, Yuichi Sugita in three thrilling sets as he continued his quest for a title at the Levene, Gouldin & Thompson
Tennis Challenger 2011 here on Wednesday.
The Muscovite came back from the brink of defeat to finish off the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in one hour and 46 minutes of play.
That was a clear proof to some huge shot-making from Sugita, the world No 170, whose offensive style forced the Russian to lose the second set before finally entering the second round of the tournament in three sets.
After a closely-fought match, the turning point bobbed up in the end of the decider when Sugita fell short of taking six points on his first serve percentage while his Russian opponent clinched hundred percent of them and made
it impossible for the Japanese to find a way past him.
The 22-year-old Sugita, who was playing against the Russian for the first time in his career, quickly conceded the opening set after claiming the opening break. He then speedily gave the benefit back following some careless shot-making,
before Donskoy gave himself the opportunity to serve out the opening set with a 6-4 scoreline.
Sugita, who lost the opener despite putting up a decent fight, looked completely tired, but recovered at the start of the second set to race to a 3-2 lead. The 22-year-old Japanese did not let the advantage slip out of his hands
this time around and with the momentum shifting his way, the Japanese did not look back and managed to reel off next four games in two, introducing a third set to the match.
Although the Russian had his chance at 2-3 in the second set, he could not convert the only break point opportunity presented to him and from there on the Japanese player was made to wrap up the second set with a 6-3 score.
As the third set unfolded, Donskoy’s game went from indecision to precision and he quickly recovered from the lapse in concentration to keep his Binghamton hopes alive and winning the decider with a 6-2 score line as his Japanese
opponent dumped a backhand into the net.
Standing his own ground pretty perfectly, the Russian won the match with a difference of nine points in total and now marches on into the second round where he will face Frederik Nielsen of Denmark.
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