Ilija Bozoljac rallies past Marinko Matosevic into the main draw – AEGON Championships 2011
World number 200 Ilija Bozoljac of Serbia came back from a deficit of one set to upset world number 152 Marinko Matosevic of Australia in three sets 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the final qualifier of AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club
in London on Sunday. The Serbian took an hour and 22 minutes to undo his opponent in a tough contest.
Matosevic broke Bozoljac in the fifth game of the opening set and held his serve in the next game to take a 4-2 lead. The Australian served out the set in the tenth game, winning it 6-4.
The 25 year-old hit 59 percent of the first serves and sealed 76 percent of the points on them in the first set. The right-handed converted one of the three break points he received and did not face any break points on his own
serve in the opening set.
The Australian was looking to seal the match quickly as he broke Bozoljac in the third game of the second set to go ahead 2-1. However, the Serbian was quick to respond as he broke back immediately, levelling the score at 2-2.
Matosevic and Bozoljac held their serve in the next eight games to tie the score at 6-6 and force a tie-break. The Serbian claimed two mini-breaks in the tie-break and bagged it 7-4.
The 25-year-old fired ten aces and 47 percent of the first serves, clinching 86 percent of the points on them in the second set. Bozoljac returned quite well as he grabbed 30 percent of the first return points in the second set.
The Belgrade resident converted the only break point he received and saved four of the five break points on his own serve in the second set.
Carrying the winning momentum into the third set, Bozoljac broke his opponent in the second game and held his serve in the next game, racing to a 3-0 lead. The Serbian did not allow Matosevic to break back, serving out the set
in the ninth game and winning it 6-3.
Bozoljac served superbly as he delivered nine aces and 70 percent of the first serves in the final set. The Serbian won 76 percent of the first service points in the second set. On the other hand, Matosevic managed to hit 68 percent
of the first serves, winning 76 percent of the points on them. The Australian failed to save the only break points he faced in the third set. Whereas, Bozoljac succeeded in saving all the four break points he faced in the final set.
In the second round, the six feet and four inches tall beat world number 403 Fabrice Martin of France in straight sets 7-6(4), 6-3.
The Australian will play world number 58 Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan in the opening round of the main draw.
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