Marinko Matosevic ousts Rajeev Ram in final qualifier – Malaysian Open 2011
Marinko Matosevic, ranked world No.154, played his final round qualifier of the Malaysian Open 2011 against Rajeev Ram here on Monday, 26th September. Playing on indoor hard courts at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, the two fought for an hour and three minutes, in what seemed like a one sided game for the Aussie, with Matosevic bagging the match 6-3, 6-4.
Comparatively, the 26-year-old Aussie had a better prior 10 match run and all on hard courts. Ram, on the other hand, had a similar stat as per his 2nd round qualifier rival. The two differed in rankings that proved to be an advantage for the world No.154 and provided him with the win.
Firing off with the starter, Matosevic served first and rolled down the scoreboard, 1-0. Following the Aussie, Ram knocked out the second game of the set levelling the scores at 1-1. Ranked world No.154, Matosevic took out game 3 but the Indian-American followed levelling up at every point until game 7.
Serving out game 7, the Aussie stood to return the world No.207 and jolted Ram with a breakpoint win and led the set, 5-3. With one last serve left for the Aussie to take away the set, the 26-year-old cleared game 9 and went off towards the 2nd set winning the first 6-3.
Igniting the 2nd set, Ram took his chance to open up first and take the advantage lead, 1-0. Matosevic, on the other hand, maintained his form levelling up with the American at every point, 1-1. Adding to game 2 win, the Aussie broke early and served out game 4 repeating the serve-break-serve technique over and over again frustrating his rival.
With scores at 3-1, Ram pulled off a game to cut the lead to 2-3 but was unable to break the Aussie and he extended his lead to 4-2 next. Serving out game 7, the 27-year-old American hung right behind the Aussie’s tail, 3-4, and waited for him to make a mistake.
Matosevic, on the contrary, had a brick wall as his defence. Maintaining his two games lead he blistered game 8 and led the match 5-3 and closer to his main draw entry. With two more games left, Matosevic served out game 10 and led on winning the set, 6-4, and the match 2-0 to make it to the main draws of the Malaysian Open 2011.
Statically, the world No.154 had an 87 percent winning of his first serves, winning 40 service points and 17 returners, the Aussie totalled 57 points against 43 of Ram to end up the match winning and securing his berth in the main draw of the event.
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