Kevin Anderson reaches third round; dumps Sergiy Stakhovsky – Australian Open 2012
South African tennis ace, Kevin Anderson, finally showed a glimpse of class against Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round battle of the Grand Slam Down Under. The 30th seed took two hours and 35 minutes to
wind up victory in four sets, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-3, to get the better of the 65th ranked opponent in an emphatic fashion.
Stakhovsky took early advantage in the contest and pinned Anderson to claim the opening set in just 34 minutes to get one up. The 32nd ranked South African made a thumping comeback in the following set and absolutely
annihilated his opponent to earn a breadstick. He carried on with his winning impetus in the next two sets to register his second victory of the 2012 ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) season.
Anderson banged 69 per cent of his first serve on its target, including 15 thudding aces and secured 63 out of 81 first serve points to clinch victory. The Ukrainian opponent lagged far behind with just 42 first serve points in
the game and dropped his serve four out of nine times to let Anderson back in the game after the opener.
Stakhovsky drew first blood in the fourth game of the match and held on to his lead to pocket the set number one. The South African number one came up with an astounding response in the following set and broke the Ukrainian serve
twice to close out the second set at 6-1.
More intense tennis was witnessed in the next set and both men dragged the game into a tie-breaker round. Stakhovsky proved less experienced in the decider and fell to the South African at 6-7(3). Anderson carried on with his momentum
in the fourth set and a crucial break point conversion in the sixth game sealed victory for him at 6-3.
Anderson will face off against the world number seven, Tomas Berdych, in his next clash to battle for a place in the fourth round of the Australian Open. The Czech number one registered a convincing straight sets victory, 6-1,
6-0, 7-6(4), over the unseeded Belgian competitor, Olivier Rochus, in the second round of the mega event.
Tags: