Janko Tipsarevic edges past Bjorn Phau into the semi-finals – Mercedes Cup 2012
First seed, Janko Tipsarevic, bounced back from the jaws of defeat to overcome the world number 81, Bjorn Phau of Germany, in three sets 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 6-4 in the quarter-finals at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany on Friday.
The Serbian number two required two hours and 57 minutes to post victory over his opponent in a closely contested match.
Tipsarevic struck in the third game and consolidated on it to move ahead 3-1. However, the Serbian failed to serve out of the set in the 10th game, levelling the proceedings at 5-5. Both players held in the following
two, taking the scores to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. Tipsarevic had four sets point at 6-2 but Phau played unbelievably well to claim six points in a row and capture it 7-6(6).
The German carried the winning momentum into the second set, snatching a break in the opening game to go up 1-0 but Tipsarevic hit back immediately to even it out at 1-1. Phau struck again in the fifth and this time he held his
following serve to grab a 4-2 lead. Though, the Serbian pulled it back once again to square off the proceedings at 4-4. Phau went ahead for the third time by claiming a breakthrough in the 11th but the trend did not change, as Tipsarevic bounced
back to level the score at 6-6. The Serbian made full use of his triple life line and played brilliantly to win the tie-breaker 7-6(2).
In contrast to the previous two sets, Tipsarevic and Phau made a steady start in the final set, as they held their serve in the first six games to take the score to 3-3. The Serbian contender hit a blow to Phau in the seventh and
consolidated on it to go up 5-3. He did not allow the German to stage a comeback, closing it 6-4.
A relieved Tipsarevic said, after the match, "I’m a little bit lucky that I managed to win [the second set] and save four match points. I kept calm in the third set and I was playing good. We were out on the court so long and it’s
not easy to close out the match no matter who you’re playing. He went for a little bit too much on two occasions, but on the other two match points I think I played well."
The Serbian is slated to meet Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil in the semi-finals.
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