Jesper Saarni holds Matias Kallio down in first round qualifier – IPP Open 2011 CH
Jesper Saarni, Finn 25-year-old, played a hard hitting first round qualifier match of IPP Open 2011, Tali, Helsinki, Finland against compatriot, Matias Kallio, beating him down with a spectacular third set comeback, winning, 6-2,
5-7, 6-4, in an hour and 59 minutes Indoor blue circuit match on Saturday, 19th of November 2011.
Saarni, playing his careers’ twelfth match, opened up the tie serving first, rolling down the scoreboard, 1-0. Kallio, Fin and compatriot to Saarni, followed with a winner, levelling up the scores, 1-1. The two rallied down a game
each next to even up again at 2-2 before the 25-year-old struck.
Serving out game five of the first set, Saarni broke his rival compatriot in game six to lead the fixture 4-2. Serving next, the 25-year-old continued to dominate the set, bagged game seven, 5-2, and was not left with just one
more win to captivate the set. Concluding the set, Saarni pocketed the eighth game, 6-2, and moved on to set two.
Continuing with the set two, the two rallied down their first serves of the set and levelled up at 1-1. Carrying on the two were unable to break each other and bagged games on their serves to level up at 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and then
on 5-5. Hoping to finish off early, Saarni serve game eleven and broke down.
Breaking his compatriot, Kallio took advantage as he served out game twelve saving a breakpoint and winning the set, 7-5, to level up the scores, 1-1.
Continuing with the final set of the match, Saarni served out the opening game of the set rolling down the scoreboard 1-0. Winning his first serve of the set, Kallio got off the mark serving out game two and levelled up the scores,
1-1.
Kallio went spectacular as he broke the in-form compatriot and smashed out game three to lead the scores, 1-2. However, Saarni broke back instantly to level up the scores, 2-2, and served out his third service game to extend his
lead to 3-2.
Kallio levelled up next, 3-3, and then again at 4-4, however, failed to win any more games after that. The 25-year-old turned the tables as he broke his compatriot for the first time in the set, game nine, 5-4, and served out the
match winning game ten, 6-4, finishing off the fixture with a strong comeback.
Making his way into the second round, Saarni now plays his second match of the ATP Challenger Tour event against Brit, Joshua Milton, for the final qualifier spot.
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