Ivan Dodig downs Bernard Tomic in the opening round – Regions Morgan Keegan Championships 2012
Croatian tennis ace, Ivan Dodig, upset the eighth seed, Bernard Tomic, in troublesome three sets at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships 2012 on Monday. He hit back to formulate a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(8) success against the Australian number one to advance into the second round at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 500 series event taking place in Memphis, Tennessee, United States.
The unseeded Croat spilled more errors but brought his experience into play, eventually overpowering the 19-year-old in their first meeting. Dodig committed seven double faults but smashed 19 aces to not only take lead in the FedEx ATP head-to-head series by 1-0 against Tomic but also secured a spot in the round of 16.
World number 37, Tomic, made quick in-roads by pulling out the opener with a single break of serve. The Aussie blocked both breakpoints he encountered and cashed in the only break chance in the eleventh game, ultimately sealing the opener by winning seven games to five.
The Croatian veteran rebounded in the proceeding set and quickly leaped to a 2-0 lead with a break of serve. He lost his serve in the very next game but stayed focused in the remaining game, subsequently converting another break chance to his advantage in the eighth game. Despite losing his edge again in the ninth game, Dodig got the breakthrough in the last game and clinched the equaliser with a 6-4 score line.
Ranked 58th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Dodig lost his track again in the final set and gifted away his serve in the third game. However, he re-focused after this and quickly snatched his break back in the very next game. The Croat then maintained his intensity and swiped in remaining serves, consequently dragging the set to a tie-breaker. He outclassed the teenager in it and won the decider with a 7-6(8) score line.
Next challenge for the 27-year-old is the conqueror of the match between Austrian number one Jurgen Melzer and the Uzbekistani challenger, Denis Istomin.
In the only other Men’s singles match, Donald Young outmuscled the Bulgarian star, Grigor Dimitrov, in brutal three sets. The 41st ranked American required two hours and 23-minutes to oust Dimitrov in their second meeting. He lost his serve five times but capitalised on four out of 14 break opportunities to jolt down a 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(6) score line.
Young will face the winner of the match between top seeded John Isner and Luxembourgian ace, Gilles Muller.
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