Julian Knowle stuns Toshihide Matsui to enter main draw – Proton Malaysian Open 2012
Austrian challenger, Julian Knowle, upset the qualifying sixth seed, Toshihide Matsui from Japan, in a three-set thriller at the Proton Malaysian Open 2012 on Sunday. He hit back to formulate a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory against the Japanese seed to power into
the main draw at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event taking place in Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The underdog showed exceptional skills and abilities after losing the opening set. He held his composure afterwards and eventually carved out the victory in their first encounter. As a result, Knowle progressed into the first round at this indoor hard court
event.
Ranked 450th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Matsui made a strong entry at the Putra Indoor Stadium. He drew the first blood in the fourth game and jumped to a 4-1 lead. The Japanese smoothly held his remaining serves and
eventually clinched the opener with a 6-3 score line.
The 38-year-old carried his losing ways in the following set. He gifted away his serve in the third game and went 1-2 down. However, Knowle rebounded afterwards and quickly recovered in the very next game. He remained focused and got the breakthrough in
the eighth game, subsequently sealing the equaliser by winning six games to three.
Knowle kept momentum sailing into the final set which matter the most. He amazingly warded off all three breakpoints he came across to keep his entire serves. The Austrian cashed in the lone break chance in the fifth game and pulled out the decider with
a 6-4 score line.
The left-hander from Austria required two hours and 11 minutes to prevail. He withstood 19 aces and capitalised on several unforced errors Matsui spilled. Knowle impressively fended off seven out of nine breakpoints he came across and converted three out
of seven break chances to his advantage. He produced a slightly lower first serve share of 60 per cent as opposed to the Japanese’s 62 per cent and amazingly clicked 42 out of 53 points on it.
Next up for Knowle is the Spanish contender, Albert Ramos, in the opening round.
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