James Ward eases through Igor Sijsling to reach final round qualies – Australian Open 2012
Second head-to-head battle between the Briton, James Ward, and the Dutch, Igor Sijsling, ended up with a first triumph for Ward in straight set 7-6(5), 6-2 against Sijsling. The encounter was played during the second qualifying
round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday. Attendants at the arena were happy to witness a cracking battle in the first set but were left dejected in the second half of the match.
First set was the display of shear class and temperament from both players. Ward had already suffered a straight set defeat against Sijsling in 2005 during Spain F26; he was in no mood to spare his opponent this time around, as
he had to wait six long years to get his revenge shot against the Dutch. It was interesting to see that Sijsling had done his homework that helped him a lot in the first set of the match.
Disparity between the rankings was clearly out of context during the first half of the match. Both players were equipped with similar game play and no one was allowing their rival to have any sort of initial advantage that will
minimize their chances of winning the set. Cautious game play pushed the scores slowly and gradually towards the tie breaker; no breaks were witnessed in the first set. Few aces from both players delighted the crowd but aggressive game play was missing completely.
Scores pushed to 6-6 as the tie breaker was enforced to decide the set. Proximity of the game styles made it hard for the tie breaker round to decide the set even but after a hard fought battle, it was the Briton that had the final
triumph; bagged the first set but it was just for that one crucial point and nothing else. It could have gone either way.
Both players opened up a bit in the second set that brought breaks into the play. Two breaks were traded between the two players in the second and third game. Ward levelled the scores with 2-2 in the next game; breathtaking display
in the next game earned him the vital break that gained him the lead; another break serve in the seventh game pulled curtains for his opponent.
James Ward contests against the Dutch Jesse Huta Galung for the main round berth of the Australian Open.
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