Juan Carlos Ferrero slams Mikhail Youzhny in first round – Shanghai Rolex Masters 2011
Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spanish former world No.1, fired up on Monday, 10thOctober, against his first round opponent at the 2011 Shanghai Rolex Masters, Russian world No.34, Mikhail Youzhny, outlasting him 7-6(4), 6-4
in a long one hour 52 minutes hard hitting blue court match.
Playing at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Shanghai, China, the two unleashed on each other, however, the Spanish bull threw the Russian grizzly over the court to make it into the 2nd round.
Despite the disparity in ranking, the former world No.1, Ferrero hampered the world No.34. Ranked 69, the Spaniard has made it back into the top ranking winning the Mercedes Open earlier this year. With his satisfying run till
the 4thround of the US Open, the veteran has certainly made a rising comeback.
With the two walking down the blue hard circuit and a number of spectators holding the Spanish flag, the two kicked off with Youzhny serving first for the opener. Saving a breakpoint the Russian scored the first game switching
the serve to the Spaniard, 1-0.
All set to fire up his super tactics, Ferrero won his opening serve with 3 game points and followed to return again. With the two mustering down winning games on respective serves, levelled up at 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and at 5-5.
Serving out a game each, the two tied up in a tiebreaker decider, 6-6. Serving first Youzhny took the lead; however, Ferrero covered every point on his serve. Breaking the higher ranked Russian with a marvellous down-the-line shot,
the 31-year-old broke the 9th point and rocketed to his win with the next two points, 7-4, pocketing the set 7-6(4).
Igniting the Spanish stand, Ferrero served out the first game of the second set, rolling down his side of the scoreboard, 1-1. Following up the former world No.1, Youzhny levelled up saving a breakpoint, 1-1. Pressurizing the Russian,
Ferrero kept on winning games, however, could not get a break until game 10.
With scores levelling up at 2-2, 3-3, and at 4-4, it seemed that there might be another tiebreaker. However, the veteran Spaniard he served out game 9 to lead 5-4, and broke the higher ranked Russian in game 10 ending the set,
6-4, and the Russian’s run in straight games.
Through to the 2nd stage, Ferrero now looks on to compatriot, Fernando Verdasco as they battle it out for the 3rd round seat of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000.
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