Jesse Levine destroys Brian Baker to lift title - Knoxville Challenger 2011
Jesse Levine, American world No.160, blew away compatriot Brian Baker in the final round of the Knoxville Challenger 2011 on Sunday, 13th of November 2011, breaking him down in straight sets 6-2, 6-3, as the two went down to play the title match of the indoor hard court ATP Challenger Tour event.
Firing up first, Baker served for the match opener, however, failed to make a strong opening and broke down early. Levine, breaking his rival in the opening game, serving out the second captivating a two game lead. Continuing with the set, Baker finally opened up his side of the scoreboard, winning his second service game to cut down the lead to 1-2.
On the other hand, Levine maintained his lead as he kept on bagging games of respective serves, game four. The lower ranked compatriot did cut the lead from 3-1 to 3-2, yet was unable to break back to level the scores. The disparity in ranking was enough to predict a win for the higher ranked American.
Levine, serving out game six of the first set, 4-2, broke his compatriot in the seventh game to lead the set 5-2. With just one more game left to finish off the set, the 24-year-old higher ranked American saved a breakpoint and completed the set run winning 6-2 to lead the final 1-0.
Continuing with the final, Baker tired his luck in the second set serving out the opener and rolling down the starter of the second set, 1-0. Levine, however, followed with a triple game point win right away to level up the scores, 1-1. Rallying down games of respective serve, both players won a game each to level up at 2-2.
The set ignited as the two broke each other in three back-to-back games, game five, six and seven, with Levine winning 2 out of the three. Leading the score, 4-3, the 24-year-old then served out game eight, 5-3, and was now left with just one more game to finish off the set, match to win the title.
With a spectacular finish, Levine broke the lower ranked compatriot, bagging the set, 6-3, and the match in straight sets clinching away his first ATP Challenger tour title of the season.
Ranked world No.160 now, Levine jumped an amazing 59 places this week. However, the American has had his glory days back in 2008 when he was ranked world No.94. Anyhow, with the season ending, this year, the American will retain his title till the new season starts.
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