Evgeny Korolev stuns Victor Hanescu in qualifiers – Kremlin Cup 2012
Kazakhstani starlet, Evgeny Korolev, upset the qualifying top seed, Victor Hanescu, with a breadstick at the Kremlin Cup by Bank of Moscow on Sunday. He jolted down a 6-4, 6-1 victory against the world number 61 to secure a spot in the final round of the
qualifying competition at this indoor hard court event held in Moscow, Russia.
The underdog showed super skills to outsmart Hanescu in their third meeting. After recording the victory in one hour and 25 minutes, Korolev not only avenged his loss in St. Petersburg four years ago but also advanced into the final round at qualifying competition
of this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 Series event.
Korolev made a strong entry at the Olympic Stadium. He drew the first blood in the sixth game and leaped to a 4-2 lead. Regardless of losing his edge in the very next game, the Kazakh remained calm and held his following serve. He capitalised on another
break chance in the last game and clinched the opener with a 6-4 score line. Korolev amazingly warded off four out of five breakpoints he came across and availed two out of seven break chances to inch towards the limelight.
Ranked 248th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Korolev went berserk in the proceeding set. He reeled off the opening five games before Hanescu could come on the score sheet. The Kazakh plucked his serve once more and sealed
the set with a breadstick. He superbly brushed off all four breakpoints he encountered and cashed two out of seven break chances to dominate.
Overall, the 24-year-old coughed several unforced errors but smashed four aces to cover it up. He produced a lower first serve share of 63 per cent as compared to his rival’s 69 per cent but acceptably marked 30 out of 45 points on it.
Korolev will face off the local wild card entrant, Richard Muzaev, in the final qualifying competition. Muzaev upset his sixth seeded compatriot, Igor Kunitsyn, in a three-set nail-biter to set up this meeting. He was broken once but capitalised on two out
of four break chances to pull out the victory.
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