Michael McClune ousts Isaac Frost to move into main draw – Van Open 2011 CH
Michael McClune of America is through to the first round of main draw, after defeating Australian Isaac Frost 6(5)-7, 6-3, 6-3 in a forceful display that got better the longer it went on and concluded in emphatic fashion.
The American has a lot to feel satisfied that his focused and determined display of tennis against the mercurial Australian, in front of a huge Canadian crowd, was a marked step up from his previous two performances at the tournament.
Frost was the better player for most of the first set, at times displaying the superb touch and vision that took him to the final round of the qualifying competition, but his impressive two-handed backhand remained a show stopping weapon and he lost just four points on his first serve in the opener.
McClune was forced to save two of his three break points and laboured at times, with just 55 percent of his first serves. The pair looked to be having a personal tiff to see who could execute the most deadly shot, with both offering up superb examples.
But displaying the better temperament, Frost stepped up his game to seize the initiative in the first set tie break and clinched it 7-5, winning 63 percent on service, 36 percent on return and 50 percent in total.
However, as the second set started, McClune became more aggressive from the baseline, stepping into his blistering shot-making and perfect returning. Also, he improved his serve too and began to dominate his Australian opponent efficiently.
He converted 100 percent break points with some perfect forehand winners that had him pumping his fist and went on to take the second set 6-3. In doing so, he had just two double-faults and produced a whopping seven aces to Frost’s two, underlying his improvement.
From there on, an increasingly confident McClune went on to seize full control, unleashing his full armory of shots. An almost perfect sixth game in the decider, that had Canadian crowd on their feet, gave McClune another break, which withered his opponent’s challenge to serve successfully for the match.
McClune scored 65 percent on service, 43 percent of return and 54 percent of points in total to win the decider with six games to Frost’s three. In contrast, Frost finished off the match with 57 percent on service, 35 percent on return and 46 percent in total, losing the match in three-sets and not entering the main draw here at Vancouver, Canada.
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