Malek Jaziri, Yuichi Sugita win their first round matches – Shimadzu Kyoto Challenger 2012
Malek Jaziri defeats Denys Molchanov 6-7(7), 7-6(5), 6-0
Second seed, Malek Jaziri of Tunisia, fought back after getting surprised in the first set to overpower world number 270 Denys Molchanov 6-7(7), 7-6(5), 6-0 in the first round at the Shimadzu Kyoto Challenger in Japan on Tuesday.
The Tunisian needed two hours and six minutes to undo Molchanov.
Jaziri and Molchanov broke each other twice in the first set to even out the score at 6-6 and forced a tie-breaker. The Ukrainian, Molchanov, grabbed a 4-0 lead at the start but Jaziri bounced back to take the score to 6-6. Molchanov
took the next two points to bag it 7-6(7).
In the second set, both players were unable to break the serve until the end, taking it to another tie-breaker. However, this time it was Jaziri who raced to a 3-0 lead and capitalised on it to win 7-6(5).
After equalling the score at one set apiece, Jaziri took complete control of the match. The Tunisian did not lose even a single game in the decider and captured it 6-0.
Jaziri delivered four aces and won 37 of the 45 first serve points in the match.
The Tunisian is drawn to play Michael Look of Australian in the second round. The Australian ousted Chu-Huan Yi in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(4) in the first match.
Yuichi Sugita beats Ti Chen 7-6(3), 6-3
Fourth seed Yuichi Sugita prevailed over Ti Chen of Chinese Taipei in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-3 to join Jaziri in the second round.
Sugita and Chen won their serve throughout the first, squaring off the score at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. The Japanese, Sugita, faced some difficulties in holding in the fourth game but played well to come out of trouble.
The 23-year-old grabbed last four points to close it 7-6(3).
Chen drew the first blood in the second set, snatching a break in the opening game to go ahead 1-0. However, Sugita did not take much time in levelling the score at 1-1. The Japanese struck the final blow in the sixth game and
consolidated on it to win 6-3.
Sugita was lucky to win despite giving a poor second serve performance. The Japanese hit a terrible six double faults. The right-hander made the difference by returning better than his opponent. It took Sugita an hour and 35 minutes
to come out victorious from the match.
The Japanese is pitted against Yong-Kyu Lim of South Korea in the round of 16.
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