Michael Russell outlasts Ryan Harrison in the quarter-final – US Men’s Clay Court Championship 2012
Qualifier, Michael Russell of USA, stunned world number 65, Ryan Harrison, in three sets 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 to move to the last four at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston on Friday.
Russell made a surprising start, as he captured first three games to attain a 3-0 lead. The American allowed Harrison to win only one game in the entire set, striking again in the sixth game and serving it out at 5-1.
The 33-year-old, Russell, performed quite well on the first serve, delivering 86 percent of them and winning 15 of the 19 points. In comparison, Harrison was below his own standards, as he maintained a first delivery percentage
of just 60 and lost eight of the 12 points on them in the opener.
Russell was looking in a hurry to close out the match, as he broke his opponent in the very first game of the second set and held his next serve to build a 2-0 advantage. However, Harrison struck back to even out the score at 3-3.
Serving at 5-6 to take it to a tie-breaker, Russell lost the game, going down 5-7.
Harrison banged in a couple of aces but also delivered the equal number of double faults. However, he was still better than his opponent, who committed four of them.
Russell was helped by his determination, as he kept fighting, making a breakthrough in the third game of the decider and consolidating on it to grab a 3-1 lead. He hit a blow again in the 9th game and sealed it 6-3.
The American needed two hours and 15 minutes to come out victorious from the match.
Talking to the reporters after the match, Russell said, "I feel good. Obviously, I would’ve liked to maybe win that in straight sets. I felt like I let up a little bit in the second. I was playing really well in the first set,
but I’m happy to get through it."
He added, "I've matured a little. I changed clothes (before the third set) to settle down. I talked to myself a little bit. Once I got my serve working, I put more pressure on Ryan. All those years have made me calmer. I'd like
to have won that one in straight sets. I felt like I let up a little bit in the second set. But obviously I'm happy to get through it."
Russell will lock horns with fourth seed, Juan Monaco, in the semi-final.
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