Kevin Anderson ousts qualifier Chris Guccione in second round – Legg Mason Tennis Classic 2011
Australian qualifier Chris Guccione’s triumphant campaign at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic came to a grinding halt on Tuesday, when thirteenth seeded South African Kevin Anderson effectively dismissed him from their second round
match 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(0). Anderson faltered only briefly in the first set but quickly recovered to take home the fiercely contested two hour long match by winning the next two. The South African is now through to the third round of the Washington Competition.
Guccione is the first of the trio of Australian qualifiers, who had proved their mettle by moving on to the second round, to face defeat. Marinko Matosevic and Matthew Ebden are yet to play their second round matches.
Currently ranked at No. 37, Kevin Anderson’s career is moving forward by leaps and bounds. He had a fantastic start to the year by clinching his maiden ATP Tour Title at Johannesburg in January and clocked in his career’s highest
ranking of No. 33 a few months later in April. With a current season’s win-loss standing of 26-17 thirteenth seed Anderson last played at the quarterfinals in Atlanta. Anderson’s opponent the former World No. 67 Guccione has fallen considerably on the rankings
table; his performance this season has been far from satisfactory. The left handed Australian came into the tournament with a 0-2 win-loss mark but showed exceptional prowess during the qualifiers of the tournament managing to reach the main draws.
Tuesday’s match was the two players’ first meeting.
Guccione powered through the first set, showing glimpses of the same dexterity that won him his previous matches and closed the set at 6-3. The Australian registered two breaks of serve, once when the scores were levelled at 2-2
and another in the set’s last game. Both the players served at 54% and both managed to register 17 service points each. However, Guccione’s deftly manoeuvred serve breaks allowed him to prevail.
Unfortunately for the Australian, he couldn’t sustain his skill through to the next two sets and Guccione crumbled under Anderson’s renewed strength. Anderson fired an astounding 11 searing aces in the last two sets, compared to
Guccione’s 3. With the scores levelled at 2-2 again in the second set, Anderson defiantly broke his opponent’s serve in the 5th and 7th games of the set. Anderson sealed the second set effortlessly at 6-2. The last set was more closely
fought and had to be decided by a tie break. The experienced Anderson proved true to his higher ranking and raked in 7 points, while limiting his opponent to a dismal zero.
Anderson will play his third round match at the Legg Mason in Washington against the winner of the match between third seed Viktor Troicki and wild card Ryan Harrison.
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