Germany reaches final as Philipp Kohlschreiber beats Mikhail Youzhny at Power Horse World Team Cup
World number 44, German Philipp Kohlschreiber fought back from a set and a break down to overpower world number 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second rubber of the crucial Germany versus Russia
round robin tie at the Power Horse World Team Cup in Dusseldorf on Friday. Kohlschreiber needed two hour and 17 minutes to undo his opponent in a marathon match.
Before this match, German team lead Russia 1-0 as world number 82 Philipp Petzschner had beaten world number 92 Igor Andreev in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 in the first match on Thursday.
Youzhny dominated the opening set, breaking Kohlschreiber in the third and fifth game to win it 6-2. The Russian saved all the three break points he faced and converted both break points he received in the first set.
The 28-year-old kept the pressure on his opponent, breaking the German in the third game and holding his serve in the next game to take a 3-1 lead. However, Kohlschreiber staged a great comeback and captured six of the next seven
games, breaking the Russian in the sixth and eighth game to win the set 6-3.
The right-handed delivered a single ace and 61 percent of the first serves, sealing 75 percent of the points on them in the second set. Kohlschreiber capitalized on two of the five break point opportunities he created on Youzhny’s
serve and saved one of the two break points on his own serve in the second set.
Carrying the winning momentum into the third set, the German lost only two games, breaking his opponent thrice and grabbing the set 6-2.
Kohlschreiber kept his first serve percentage at 65 percent and captured 69 percent of the points on the first serve in the final set. On the other hand, Youzhny had a slightly higher first serve percentage as he hit 67 percent
of the first serves but the Russian had a poor conversion rate, converting a mere 47 percent of the first serves into points. Kohlschreiber saved one of the two break points and claimed three of the nine break points on his opponent’s serve in the deciding
set.
Talking to the journalists after the match, the German said, “It feels good to be in a final again. We had a tough group, anybody could beat anybody. Patrik [Kuhnen - captain] and the team helped me get back on my feet after losing
the first set. I came back fighting.”
The five feet and ten inches tall added, “Now we’ll fully concentrate on the final. We are slight favourites, have the crowd on our side. Argentina has a well-balanced team; it will be quite a ride.”
Germany will take on Argentina in the final. The Argentineans topped the Red Group, beating the Americans 3-0 in their last match.
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