Igor Sijsling upsets Eric Prodon in second round – TEAN International 2011 CH
Local Igor Sijsling survived late match opposition from Frenchman Eric Prodon as he made his way into the quarterfinal round at the 2011 TEAN International, a hard court event on the ATP Challenger Tour, on Friday.
Much to the happiness of the local crowd, Sijsling added to local win tally as he secured a 6-2, 7-6(5) upset win over the top seed.
Playing each other for the first time, the top seeded Frenchman opened serve and comfortably put himself on the scoreboard. Three successful holds of serve later between the pair, the scoreboard stood levelled at two games each.
Taking a 3-2 edge on his serve, Sijsling capitalised on Prodon’s errant strokes in the sixth game to secure a 4-2 lead, extending it to 5-2 moments later. Desperate to bag a set quickly, Sijsling improved his offence and penetrated through the Frenchman’s
defence to clinch another breakpoint opportunity, securing a 6-2 win for himself.
Marvellous in his game-play, Sijsling closed out the set in less than half hour with five aces, zero double faults and an impressive 87 percent win on an equally impressive 75 percent first serve. Sijsling secured a total of 28
of 46 points to take a 1-0 lead in the set score.
Trailing but definitely not out of the match, Prodon bounced back in the second set desperate to prove his top billing. Matching blow for blow, Prodon forced the scoreboard to tick on even terms keeping the figures tied for the
first ten games. Losing no points in the eleventh game, Prodon took a 6-5 lead though he could not maintain his form. Holding his serve successfully, Sijsling clinched the twelfth game as he forced the set into a tiebreaker.
Carrying over his form into the tiebreaker, Sijsling rushed to a 3-0 lead extending it to 5-2 moments later. Although Prodon bounced back and levelled the score at five points each, it wasn’t enough. Reeling off two straight points
with an ace at match point, Sijsling was able to clinch the tiebreaker 7-5, sealing his straight sets victory.
Upping his performance in the second set, Sijsling hit a resounding total of ten aces with zero double faults.
Sijsling now moves on ahead to play sixth seeded compatriot Thiemo de Bakker in the quarterfinal round. De Bakker moved on ahead after destroying Kazakh Evgeny Korolev in straight sets earlier in the day.
Tags: