Michael Berrer loses his temper and the quarter-final to Lukas Lacko – Slovak Open 2011
Making his way into the semis, Lukas Lacko, local lad and world No.133 pulled through the quarter-final stage of Slovak Open 2011, beating down the invincible looking German, Michael Berrer in an electrifying three setter match
on Friday, 18th of November, ending up 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-4 in 2 hours and 31 minutes.
The Veteran German had no clue of how would the lower ranked player would demolish his dreams of winning a career ending challenger. Anyhow, with the two on the blue court, Berrer ignited the fixture winning the first game to lead
the set, 1-0.
However, Slovakian stayed right there as he levelled up every time the German took the lead. Unable to break each other in the set, the two bagged games of respective serves and ended up levelling at 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5. Finally
the set went into a tiebreaker with the 31-year-old German taking the first serve.
Flushing out the tiebreaker, Berrer eased away with winner over the Slovakian, 7-5 in the tiebreaker and 7-6(5) in the set to lead the match, 1-0, however, the fixture had twist n turn next.
Lacko, continuing with the second set, served out the starter and scored the first game of the set, 1-0. Berrer followed up as he had his lucky going great by then. Bagging games of respective serves and unable to break each other
again, the two had to settle for a service winner and levelled up at 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5.
With match once again in a tiebreaker, Berrer once again got the chance to take the control and might as well finish off the match, however, Lacko presented the German with a spectacular display of perfection. Blazing forehands
down-the-line and across the court made a hard battle for Berrer to win.
Lacko pocketed the tiebreaker finishing off with a 7-5 tiebreak win and 7-6(5) set win to finally level the match scores at 1-1.
Flaring up the fixture with the final set, Berrer opened up the set serving first and rolled down the scoreboard, however, Lacko, with a greater return, won a double game point winner to level the scores, 1-1. None of the two could
break each other to take the advantage until Lacko broke free at a crucial moment.
With scores levelled up at 4-4, Lacko broke Berrer on his serve jolting the German and went into the lead, 5-4. Turning the tables, Lacko was now left with one more win to win the fixture. Berrer did almost break the world No.133,
however, the 24-year-old managed to pull out his leg winning the set, 6-4, and the set with a marvellous comeback.
Through into the semi-final stage, Lacko will now play against Canadian, Frank Dancevic, for a seat in the final show down of the ATP Challenger tour event.
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