Feliciano Lopez ousts Dmitry Tursunov in opening round – London Olympics 2012
Spanish challenger, Feliciano Lopez, took down the Russian star, Dmitry Tursunov, in a three-set nail-biter at the London Olympics 2012 on Monday. He hit back to formulate a 6-7(5), 6-2, 9-7 victory against the 29-year-old to charge into the second round
at this major sports event taking place on the grass courts in London, United Kingdom.
Lopez showed brilliant skills and agility to outsmart the Russian veteran in their sixth battle against each other. After recording this success, the Spaniard not only improved to a 4-2 lifetime in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head
2 Head series against the Russian but also booked a place in the round of 32 at Games of the x*x Olympiad.
“After losing the first set, the match was really complicated,” said the delighted Spaniard after winning his opening round match. “I found the way to play better in the second set and the third set was really close. Both of us had chances at the end [but]
I could get the break in the last game.”
The opening set saw both contestants displaying exceptional tennis skills. The set went to a tie-breaker where the Russian got the better of his rival, eventually clicking the opener with a 7-6(5) score line.
Ranked 29th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Lopez made a fitting reply in the second set. He got the critical break in the second game and quickly took a 3-0 lead before the Russian could hold on. The in-form Spaniard held
his remaining serves through amazing defensive skills. He capitalised on another break chance in the last game and sealed the equaliser by winning six games to two.
The 30-year-old kept momentum sailing in the final set which counted the most. He ruled his entire service games and got the breakthrough in the 16th game, consequently clicking the decider with a 9-7 score line.
Next in line for the Spanish veteran is the ninth seed, Juan Monaco, who devastated Belgium’s David Goffin with a breadstick to set up this battle. The Argentinean number two ruled throughout the match and eventually sealed the deal with a 6-4, 6-1 score
line.
Tags: