Lindstedt/Zimonjic edge past Anderson/Erlich into the final – If Stockholm Open 2012
Swedish-Serbian tandem of Robert Lindstedt and Nenad Zimonjic came back from the jaws of defeat to beat the unseeded team of Kevin Anderson and Jonathan Erlich in the semi-finals of the If Stockholm Open in Sweden.
After losing the opener, the Swedish-Serbian duo captured a tough second set and then saved a match point in the super tie-breaker to win it 4-6, 7-6(4), 12-10.
Lindstedt and Zimonjic made a poor start, as they lost their serve in the very first game and then they were unable to strike back immediately, going down 0-2. The Swedish-Serbian combination was broken again in the third to trail
0-3 but then pulled one back in the fourth and then held their following serve to reduce the deficit to 2-3. However, Lindstedt and Zimonjic could not get the second break back, losing it 4-6.
The Swede and Serbian players banged in two aces and 70 percent of the first serves, clinching 11 of the 19 points on them in the first set. They fared poorly on the second deliveries and first returns, losing four of the eight
and 14 of the 15 points on them respectively.
Lindstedt/Zimonjic and Anderson/Erlich served splendidly well in the second set, as they did not allow each other to claim a breakthrough from start till finish, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. The Swedish-Serbian
pair raced to a 4-1 lead at the start and maintained their lead till the end to win 7-6(4).
The top seeds made drastic improvement in their serve in the second set, banging in four aces and not committing any double fault. Their conversion rate was also superb, as they won 19 of the 23 first and nine of the 11 second
delivery points.
Super tie-breaker was extremely nerve cracking for both duos, as none was being able to dominate the other. Anderson and Erlich received a match point at 9-8 but then Lindstedt and Zimonjic showed their class, winning four of the
next five points to win it 12-10.
The Swedish-Serbian tandem will meet the Brazilian team of Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares in the final.
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