Jack Sock shocks Michael Yani with double breadsticks to reach quarters -Honolulu Challenger 2012 CH
In an all-American clash, Jack Sock stunned his fifth seeded compatriot, Michael Yani, in straight sets at the Honolulu Challenger 2012 on Thursday. He jolted down an assuring 6-1, 6-1 victory over the world number 177 to advance into the quarter-finals at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Challenger Tour event held in Honolulu, United States.
After an hour long duel, the wild card entrant, Sock, upset the seed without facing any resilience at the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park Tennis Complex. He clobbered a lower first serve share of 63 percent as opposed to his fellow citizen’s 69 percent. Sock also marked an impressive 18 out of 27 points on it and smashed six aces to dominate.
The 19-year-old stormed into the opening set and after blasting a barrage of groundstrokes, he wiped out the opening five games in a row before Yani could hold on. Sock then swiped in his serve in the seventh game and bagged the set with an exceptional 6-1 success. He was never threatened with any breakpoint and availed two of the four break opportunities.
Sock remained on track for the $50,000 prize money and got the critical break in the opening game. After the fifth seed held his serve in the third game, the lower ranked American went into rage mode again and reeled off the last four games successively. He again plucked in entire serves without facing any barrier and converted three out of five break chances to his advantage.
Awaiting the wild card entrant is the top seed, Go Soeda, who eased past the Slovakian competitor, Kamil Capkovic, in straight sets to reach this spot. The Japanese dominated in an hour and 13-minutes battle to overpower Capkovic with a 6-3, 6-2 score line.
Another local star, Denis Kudla will join Sock in the last eight. He trounced New Zealand’s Michael Venus in 77 minutes in their first meeting to advance in this tournament.
The American executed fewer unforced errors and blocked both breakpoints he encountered to keep his entire serves. On the other hand he capitalised on three out of four break opportunities to clobber a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Next up for Kudla is the third seed, Tatsuma Ito, who needed three sets to overpower the North York native, Peter Polansky, in their first encounter. The Japanese lost his serve five times but broke his rival’s serve seven times to register a 6-4, 2-6, 6-0 score line.
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