Marinko Matosevic upsets Alex Bogomolov Jr. in the second round – Delray Beach International 2012
Qualifier Marinko Matosevic ousted another seeded player, as he overcame world number 35 Alex Bogomolov Jr. in three sets 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the second round at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in Florida, USA
on Wednesday. It took the Australian, Matosevic, two hours and one minute to clinch victory in a close contest.
Bogomolov and Matosevic did not lose their serve in the first six games of the match to balance the score at 3-3. The Russian grabbed a break of serve in the seventh game and consolidated on it, sealing the set 6-4.
The main reason behind Matosevic’s loss in the opener was his poor serves. The Australian committed three double faults and hit just 41 percent of the first deliveries. He managed to claim just 10 of the 19 second serve points
in the opener.
Matosevic looked a completely different player in the second set as he raised the overall level of his play. The Australian made breakthroughs in the second and fourth game and capitalised on them to build a 5-0 lead. Bogomolov
succeeded in opening his account but failed to stop Matosevic from winning it 6-1.
The Australian smashed five aces and snatched 15 of the 18 first serve points. The 26-year-old saved both break points he faced and converted two of the three he received in the second set.
Matosevic struck early in the decider to take a 1-0 lead but the Russian fought back immediately to level the score at 1-1. Both players held their serve in the next four games, taking the score to 3-3. However, it was all Matosevic
all show after that, as he captured next three games to claim the set 6-3.
Ranked 173rd in the world, Matosevic replied aggressively to the Russian’s serves. The Melbourne, Australia resident won 10 of the 18 first and five of the nine second return points. Matosevic was unable to avoid the
one break threat he came across but compensated that by winning three of the four that came in his way in the decider.
Matosevic expressed, “It was a tough match and I’m happy to get through and make my first quarterfinal. I knew his game pretty well and he reaches a lot of balls, so I just had to keep staying aggressive. I played the big points
well.”
The Australian is slated to take on Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in the quarter-finals.
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