Jan Minar dismantles Malek Jaziri in quarter-final run – Slovak Open 2011
Jan Minar, Czech world No.499, paved his way through the quarter-final of Slovak Open 2011, beating down his Tunisian rival, Malek Jaziri, world No.118, in an epic two setter, winning 6-3, 6-4, in just an hour and 14 minutes hard indoor circuit match on Thursday, 17th of November 2011.
Despite the disparity in ranking the veteran Czech made a remarkable impact on his rival beating him down with mere difficulty. Anyhow, the two made it to the arena with a handful of supporters for either of the two and stepped to start the fixture.
Continuing with the second round match, the two walked down the blue indoor circuit warming up and following with the service toss. Opening the match, Minar stood to serve the starter rolling down the scoreboard, 1-0, and switched the serve.
Following the lower ranked Czech, Jaziri won his opening serve of the match to even up the scores at 1-1. Carrying on, the veteran pocketed his second win, game two, to lead the set, 2-1, before the 30-year-old struck. Breaking the higher ranked Tunisian with a spectacular down-the-line forehand shot, world No.499 stormed into the lead as he served out game five bagging his third consecutive game win, 4-1.
Jaziri finally struck back as he won his second game of the set, game six, to cut the lead to 2-4, however, the 27-year-old was unable to break back and level up any soon. With two more games left to finish off the set, Minar blistered two out of the last three games winning the set, 6-3, and led the match with one set to nil.
Struggling in the first, the higher ranked Tunisian opened up the second set and served out the first game, 1-0. Minar, however, followed and levelled up right away, 1-1. Although Jaziri was well differentiated in ranked, world No.118, he still could not hold the veteran rival from upsetting the match.
Breaking the higher ranked 27-year-old, Minar played spectacular shots to overcome Jaziri on his serve and led the set, 2-1. Serving next, Czech world NO.499 held his spot and bagged another winner to extend his lead to 3-1. Cutting down the lead Jaziri won his second game of the set, game five, however, was unable to break the Czech back, 2-3.
The two then managed to secure games of respective serves, yet no one was able to win a breakpoint. With scores going up with the same difference, Minar finalized the set outrunning the 27-year-old in game ten to win, 6-4, and winning the match in straight sets.
Through to the quarter-final stage of the ATP Challenger Tour event, Minar will now face Canadian, Frank Dancevic, for the semi-final spot in the Slovak Open 2011.
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