Fyrstenberg/Matkowski surprise the Bryan brothers in quarterfinal – Shanghai Rolex Masters 2011
Surprises kept flowing in Shanghai, China, as the world number one duo of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan crashed out of the quarterfinal of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, at the hands of the Polish pair of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, on Friday afternoon.
The contest was played on the outdoor hard courts of the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, with the world number nine duo winning after a nail biting finish. Fyrstenberg and Matkowski toiled for one hour and seventeen minutes before winding up victory in the super tie breaker round, 3-6, 6-4, 12-10.
It was an amazing display of quality tennis from the sixth seeded Pole competitors, ousting the top seeded team to make it to the semi-final of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Masters Series event. Fyrstenberg and Matkowski’s surprise victory improved their head-to-head record against the Bryan Brothers by 7-13 and gave them a great opportunity to get their hands on their first Masters-level title this year.
It was an evenly poised contest, with a couple of huge momentum swings from both sides. Bob and Mike were off their usual aggressive start in the opener, getting one up in the contest in no time but the Poles got them down on even terms in the very next set. A decider was imposed after both duos split the first two sets between them. The super tie breaker round also went to the wire and after a very close contest, Fyrstenberg and Matkowski finally came out as the winner in the end to make it to the semi-finals of the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
The Bryan Brothers took the better of their opponents in most segments of the game but Fyrstenberg and Matkowski keep winning crucial points on regularity to remain competitive throughout the competition. The Poles dropped the opening set early to fall on the back foot but recovered with great mastery in the following set to impose a final set. It only appeared a matter of times that Fyrstenberg and Matkowski clinched a couple of critical points in the super tie breaker round and eventually disposed off the Bryan Brothers from the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
Fyrstenberg and Matkowski will take on the third seeded combination of Michael Llodra of France and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia, in the semi-final battle to fight for a title shot in the final. Llodra and Zimonjic joined their forces together to outplay the eighth seeded pair of Robert Lindstedt of Sweden and Horia Tecau of Romania in the round of eight.
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