Michael Berrer knocks down Sergiy Stakhovsky in round 1 – Kremlin Cup 2011
German world No.98, Michael Berrer turned on to play his opening round match of the Kremlin Cup 2011 against higher ranked Ukrainian, Sergiy Stakhovsky, world No.63, at the Olympic Stadium, hard indoor circuit, Moscow, Russia.
With the two clashing out hard, Berrer surprised the higher ranked with a straight set finish, 6-2, 6-4, in an hour and 14 minutes and into round 2.
The disparity in ranking does give a thought that how could a higher-ranked player loose from a lower ranked. This wasn’t the first time the Ukrainian lost; however, they now have a head-to-head battle of 5-0 to Berrer. Playing
all their matches on hard courts, the veteran seems unbeatable in this long started rivalry.
Nevertheless, with the two walking down the blue circuit, Stakhovsky won the toss and stood to open the match. With a brilliant knock down in the start, Berrer broke early, game 1, and rolled down his side of the scoreboard, 1-0.
Winning on his opening serve, 2-0, the 31-year-old kept the scoreboard rolling.
However, Stakhovsky opened up his side of the scores winning game 3 and his first of the set, 1-2. On the other hand, maintaining his two games lead, Berrer mustered away with game 4 and switched the serve, 3-1, followed up by
the Ukrainian covering up, 2-3.
Berrer astonished the world No.63 hammering the higher ranked competitor serve-break-serving next bagging 3 straight games and the set win, 6-2, with mere difficulty.
Moving on with the second set of the fixture, Stakhovsky served first again and for the second time in the match Berrer broke the higher ranked 25-year-old and led the scores early, 1-0. Serving out on his serve, German veteran
pulled off a 2 games lead and moved on, 2-0.
Winning his first game, Stakhovsky opened up his score card, 2-1, however, was unable to counter the breakpoint lead. Adding another win to his bag, Berrer moved closer to his win as he kept on pocketing winner on his serve, 3-2,
4-3, 5-3.
With just one game left to finish off the match winning, Berrer served one out of the last two games, winning the set, 6-4, and the match in straight easy sets to walk off to the second stage of the ATP World Tour 250 event.
With an easy first round win, Berrer will now play the eighth seeded Italian, Andreas Seppi, in the second round of the cup to battle it out for the quarter-final round.
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