Evgeny Donskoy outlasts Jan-Lennard Struff in final – AEGON Pro-Series Loughborough 2012
Fourth seed, Evgeny Donskoy, battled past the German challenger, Jan-Lennard Struff, in a three-set thriller at the AEGON GB Pro-Series Loughborough 2012 on Sunday. He summed up a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 victory against his fellow 22-year-old to capture the title
at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Challenger Tour event taking place in Loughborough, United Kingdom.
The Russian contender swayed from his path in the second set and levelled the set scores. However, he remained calm and eventually carved out the victory against Struff in almost two hours. As a result, Donskoy gained confidence boost and shelved the title.
Donskoy made a strong entry at the Dan Maskell Tennis Centre. He drew the first blood in the second game and leaped to a 3-0 lead. The Russian maintained consistency in his game and swiped his remaining serves with poise. He capitalised on another break
chance in the last game and sealed the opener by winning six games to two. He was never challenged with any barrier and cashed half of the four break chances to prevail.
The world number 208 re-focused his strategy in the following set. He got the crucial break in the fifth game and jumped to a 4-2 lead. Struff kept his remaining serves with self-assurance and eventually pulled out the equaliser with a 6-4 score line. He
never faced any breakpoint and converted one out of three break opportunities to get back in contention.
Ranked 122nd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Donskoy went berserk in the final set. After Struff kept his serve in the second game, the Russian unleashed his true colours and reeled off last five games. He dusted away both
breakpoints he came across to keep his entire serves and capitalised on two out of three break chances to steal the limelight.
On the whole, the Moscow native spilled more double faults but fired 14 aces to dominate in this clash. He manifested a lower first serve share of 61 per cent as compared to his rival’s 69 per cent but superbly marked 40 out of 49 points on it. Donskoy found
seven break opportunities and ended the deal with 93 points.
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