Jarkko Nieminen outlasts Igor Sijsling to enter title-round – Power Horse Cup 2013
Finn number one, Jarkko Nieminen, rallied past the Dutch challenger, Igor Sijsling, in a three-set thriller at the Power Horse Cup 2013 on Friday.
He recorded a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory against the 25-year-old to secure a spot in the final showdown at this final clay court event before the French Open.
The sixth seeded Finn showed his class and subsequently overpowered Sijsling in their fourth encounter. After stealing the show, Nieminen improved to 3-1 lifetime in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series against the Dutchman.
The Finn veteran stated in an on-court interview after pocketing the match, “It was quite a roller-coaster, up and down from both players. It was a crucial moment at 0-2, 15/40 [in the third set]. I think that was half a match point. But, luckily, I managed
to play some of my best tennis of the day in that moment and won five games in a row.”
Nieminen made a good entry into this match as he got the much awaited break in the fourth game and took a 3-1 lead. He lost his track afterwards and after losing his following two serves, the Finn fell at 3-5. However, Nieminen got his head back in game
after this. He pocketed the last five games and consequently clinched the opener with a 7-5 score line.
Ranked 68th in the Emirates Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Sijsling changed his strategy in the following set. He smoothly held his entire serves with conviction. The Dutch got the breakthrough in the seventh game and bagged the equaliser by winning six
games to four.
The left-hander from Finland failed to find his rhythm in start of the deciding set. He suffered the first blow in the opening game and trailed at 0-2. However, Nieminen unleashed his skills and went on a five-game killing spree. The Finn plucked his serve
once again and clicked the decider with a 6-3 win.
Next challenge for the world number 42, Nieminen, is the third seed, Juan Monaco from Argentina. The Finn reflected about his next match-up, “It will be a tough match again [against Monaco]. I think tomorrow will be slow and heavy, the weather isn't getting
much warmer. He doesn't give you anything for free and he's one of the best players on clay, so I really have to play a complete and solid match.”
Monaco ousted his compatriot, Guido Pella, in straight sets to set-up this epic final.
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