Marinko Matosevic ousts Michael Shabaz in straight sets in qualies – Legg Mason Tennis Classic 2011
Marinko Matosevic, the Australian, cleared his 1st round qualifier of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic at Washington DC. The match was held at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Centre on hard court. The match was rather
an easy win for the 25 year Australian. Ranked at world No.154, Marinko hammered Michael Shabaz, the local player, in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to qualify into the next round.
Marinko, aged 25, played a thrilling game using his forehands at his maximum. The world no.154 stood a brick wall against the American giving no chance of a breakpoint to his challenger. However, the American did push hard in the
first set bagging a few games but a few was not enough.
The match started off with Shabaz opening for the match. Rolling the scoreboard to 1-0, the American got his score levelled in no time. 23-years-old, Shabaz lost a number of points on double faults. Breaking the home player in
game 5 and game 9, Marinko snatched the set 6-3 from the American to take the lead 1-0.
The Aussie bagged the set totalling 33 points together with 17 service and 16 return points against 25 of Michael Shabaz.
Marinko took off with the killer set, winning the first game to lead 1-0. The 23-year-old followed the world No.154 and levelled the scores 1-1 once again in the match. However, that was the last he could win. The Aussie once again
broke the American bone twice in the set. The 25-year-old reined misery from aces to breakpoints to 1st serve wins on the 23-year-old.
Giving away only a single game, the Aussie claimed the set and the game 6-3, 6-1. The second set totalled 26 points for the Aussie world No.154 that included17 service points and 9 returners. In addition to the 33 points of the
first set, Marinko totalled 59 points in his 2 set win. Majority of his points were service winners. Never the less he came out to be equally good in returners.
Acing the immature American 6 times in his first round qualifier, Marinko Matosevic claimed an unproblematic win over the 23-year-old in exactly 1 hour to sit in the second round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic qualifiers.
Marinko will play his second round qualifier match against Amer Delic of Bosnia in a 3 setter match to the main draws.
Tags: