Michael Russell clears 1st round as he beats Ivo Karlovic – Legg Mason Tennis Classic 2011
Michael Russell, the American, cleared his way into the second round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic when he dumped off Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in straight sets. Playing at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Centre in Rock Creek
Park, Russell fought hard for his 6-4, 7-6(4) win.
Ivo Karlovic, 32-years-old, ranks at world No.126 and started off his career in 2000 and has amassed four titles to date. Though his 6ft 10in gigantic structure is mostly an advantage for him, however, it failed to leave a mark
as it was easily countered by the American. The right hander came in the spot lights in 2008 when he was ranked as the world No.14.
On the contrary, Michael Russell, aged 33, started off 2 year before the Croatian in 1998. Since then he has certainly maintained his position but failed to capture any title. His highest rankings of his career were in 2007 as
he was ranked as the world No.60.
Playing the their third match on hard court, Michael Russell has been the dominator on the courts as he has won both of their previous encounters.
Their match here started off with Karlovic serving first to open the match. Winning the first game, the scores were levelled in the second as Russell won on his serve. Both players served and won respectively until game 9 of the
first set. Russell won the only breakpoint of the match and took the lead 5-4. He ultimately took the last game of the set and won 6-4 to take the lead in the match 1-0.
Although the Croatian giant served 6 aces and earned a 93 percent 1st serve point win and statistically had a strong return percentage, the 32-year-old lost the set with 30 points against 31 of Russell.
The second set boiled up to a thousand degrees as both players played 13 games to end the set. Levelling each other at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 Ivo Karlovic and Michael Russell cancelled each other at every point and took the match
to a tiebreaker. With no breakpoints to either player, the match seemed completely unpredictable now.
Russell pulled out as the stronger link as he took away the tiebreak 6-4 and won the second set 7-6(4) and the match 6-4 and 7-6(4).
The decider ended with equal total points to both the players. In addition to the 31 in the first, Michael Russell won another 38 in the second to win with one point over the Croatian and take his seat in the second round of the
Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
Tags: