Malek Jaziri battles past Mischa Zverev to clinch title win – Geneva Challenger 2011
Tunisian Malek Jaziri clinched a title win at the 2011 Geneva Challenger on Sunday, November 13th after doing away with German Mischa Zverev in three sets. Jaziri bounced back from a set down to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
win over the German qualifier.
Playing each other for the first time, Jaziri snapped the six match winning streak of the German. Previously, the German had made it to the semi-final of the Eckental Challenger while the Tunisian had made it only to the second
round of the same.
Winning the toss, Jaziri opened service followed closely by Zverev. The pair engaged in a toe-to-toe run keeping the score tied for the first six games. A lucky break by Zverev in the seventh game put the German in a 4-3 lead which
he extended to 5-3 on his service. From there on, the pair progressed on their service games as the German eventually served out the set at 5-4 to go one up in the set score.
Leading the set score, the match pretty much seemed in the bag for Zverev. However, down but not out, Jaziri was not going to go out without a fight. The second set started on a competitive note as the pair exchanged breakpoints
going one game each on the scoreboard. The next three games went to the pair on their own serves with neither of the two taking the lead. However, a mini break came the Tunisian’s way in the sixth game. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Jaziri went 4-2 in the
lead before serving out the set to a 6-3 win, bringing the set score to even terms.
With a set win a piece, the match entered into the decider. However, what was expected to be a neck to neck run turned out to be smooth sailing for the Tunisian. With comfortable service holds, the scoreboard ticked on even terms
till three games each. In the seventh, however, the Tunisian kicked into high gear as he broke, held serve and then finally broke Zverev for one final time to clinch another 6-3 victory, sealing his three set wins and maiden title win on the Challenger Tour
this year.
Jaziri had earlier won the title at Great Britain F7, F8 and Kazakhstan F4. The Tunisian had also reached the final of the Samarkand Challenger and Colombia F2, though he failed to clinch a title win there.
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