Michael Russell jolts Kevin Anderson to secure a quarter-final spot – BB&T Atlanta Open 2012
Local challenger, Michael Russell, recorded an upset victory against the fifth seed, Kevin Anderson, in a three-set thriller at the BB&T Atlanta Open 2012 on Wednesday. He nudged up a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 victory against the world number 33 to charge into the
final eight at this outdoor hard court tournament held in Johns Creek, United States.
The American underdog displayed his best tennis and ultimately pulled out the victory in their third meeting at the Atlantic Station. After registering the success in two hours and 42 minutes, Russell not only avenged his loss at this tournament last season
but also took lead in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series by 2-1 against the South African number one.
In the opening set, both contestants played their best tennis. Anderson dusted away the lone breakpoint he came across to swipe his entire serves. Despite failing to cash in any of his two break chances, the South African tennis star dragged the set to a
tie-breaker and prevailed in it to click the opener with a 7-6(5) win.
With the support from his home crowd, Russell rebounded in the follow-up set. He cashed in the lone break chance in the third game and leaped to a 3-1 lead. The American plucked his entire serves without facing any obstacle and sealed the equaliser by winning
six games to four.
Ranked 96th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Russell maintained his intensity in the final set. After capitalising on two out of five break opportunities, the American jumped to a 4-1 lead. Despite failing to ward off the
only breakpoint he encountered, Russell kept his remaining serves and clicked the decider by with a 6-4 score line.
Russell will square-off against his fourth seeded compatriot, Andy Roddick, who tumbled France’s Nicolas Mahut in straight sets to set up this meeting.
The eighth seed, Go Soeda, faced a better fate later that day. He crippled the Russian challenger, Igor Kunitsyn, with a breadstick to advance at this event. The Japanese star was broken twice but cashed in five out of 13 break chances to earn the glory.
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