John-Patrick Smith outlasts Chris Guccione to enter quarters – JSM Challenger 2012
In an all-Australian clash, John-Patrick Smith, battled past his qualifying compatriot, Chris Guccione, in a three-set thriller at the JSM Challenger of Champaign 2012 on Wednesday. He summed up a 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4 victory against the world number 547 to
charge into the quarter-finals at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Challenger Tour event taking place in Champaign in Illinois, United states.
The Townsville native lost his track against his fellow left-hander in the second set. However, Smith remained focused and eventually sealed the deal in just under two hours. Battling each other for the first time, the higher ranked Aussie proved to be a
better contender and subsequently advanced into the last eight.
In the opening set, both contenders showed brilliant display of power tennis. Smith dusted away all three breakpoints he came across to keep his entire serves. He squandered both break chances but dominated in the tie-breaker, ultimately carving out the
opener with a 7-6(3) success.
The world number 547 re-focused his strategy in the following set. He drew the first blood in the fourth game and jumped to a 4-1 lead. Smith plucked his remaining serves with poise and eventually sealed the equaliser by winning six games to three. The Melbourne
native swiped his entire serves without facing any hindrance and cashed the lone break opportunity to get in contention.
Ranked 246th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Smith held his composure in the final set. He smoothly kept his serves until he got the crucial break in the eight game and took a 5-3 lead. Apart from wasting his chance of serving
out the set, the higher ranked Aussie capitalised on another break chance in the last game and clinched the decider with a 6-4 score line. He failed to block the lone breakpoint he faced and converted two out of four break chances to his advantage.
Next challenge for Smith is the sixth seed, Tim Smyczek, who dumped South Africa’s Izak Van Der Merwe in straight sets to set up this meeting. The American was broken once but cashed half of the eight break opportunities to manipulate a 6-2, 6-4 score line.
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