Marinko Matosevic, Michael Yani move to the final qualifier – Delray Beach International 2012
Marinko Matosevic beats Blake Strode 6-1, 7-6(2)
Sixth seed Marinko Matosevic ousted world number 385 Blake Strode in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(2) in the second qualifier at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in the United States on Sunday. The match lasted for
an hour and 38 minutes.
Matosevic lost only one game in the first set, breaking the American in the fourth and sixth game and capitalising on the double break to claim the set 6-1.
The Australian was at his best form while returning; he won a total of 10 out of 18 return points. The 26-year-old saved all the four break points he came across in the first set.
Matosevic and Strode broke each other twice in the first eight games of the second set to square off the score at 4-4. They held their serves in the next four to take the set to a tie-breaker. The Australian grabbed last five points
to win it 7-2.
The right-hander hit a single ace and bagged 19 of the 26 first serve points. Matosevic availed both break points opportunities he received but at the same time failed to avoid two of the two he faced in the second set.
Matosevic is slated to meet Robert Farah of Columbia in the final qualifier.
Michael Yani defeats Mikhail Elgin 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(5)
Seventh seed Michael Yani avoided the scare in the second set to edge past Mikhail Elgin of Russia in three sets 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(5) in the second round of the qualifying draw at the Buenos Aires Tennis Club. The American needed
two hours and 21 minutes to register this win over his opponent in a tough contest.
In the opener, neither of the two players was able to break other’s serve, equalising the score at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. Yani grabbed a late mini-break to claim it 8-6.
Elgin surprised the American with the level of improvement in his game in the second set. The Russian made a breakthrough in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and capitalised on it to win 6-3.
In a similar fashion to the opener, both players held their serve throughout the final set to level the score at 6-6 and forced a tie-breaker. One again, it was Yani who struck the final blow and won last two points to capture
it 7-5.
Yani will take on Mischa Zverev of Germany in the final round of the qualifying draw. The German defeated Bobby Reynolds in the second round.
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