Michael Russell trounces Devin Britton to enter quarters – JSM Challenger 2012
In an all-American affair, top seed Michael Russell got the better of his wild card compatriot, Devin Britton, in straight sets at the JSM Challenger of Champaign 2012 on Wednesday. He nudged up a 6-4, 6-4 victory against the world number 427 to charge into
the final eight at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Challenger Tour event held in Illinois, United States.
Russell showed tremendous skills throughout the clash, eventually pulling out the victory in one hour and 37 minutes against his fellow citizen. The players last met each other at the Knoxville Challenger last week and after bagging this match, the seed
maintained his winning record against Britton and secured a place in the quarter-finals.
The 34-year-old showed his class after entering this hard court event. He drew the first blood in the second game and took a 2-0 lead. Despite squandering his edge in the very next game, Russell broke his opponent’s serve again and leaped to a 3-1 lead.
He lost his serve in the fifth game but remained focused, eventually getting the breakthrough in the last game. He fended off four out of six breakpoints he faced and availed three out of seven break chances to formulate a 6-4 success.
Ranked 85th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Russell carried his winning ways in the following set. He suffered the first blow in the opening game but quickly pocketed the following three games to go 3-1 up. Apart from losing
his edge in the fifth game, the higher ranked American stayed calm and swiped his remaining serves with poise. He cashed another break chance in the last game and clicked the set with a 6-4 win.
Russell spilled more double faults and faced seven aces. However, he clobbered a better first serve share of 69 per cent as compared to his rival’s 57 per cent and impressively marked 27 out of 49 points on it. The seeded American sought 13 break opportunities
and ended the match with 75 points.
Up next for Russell is seventh seed, Jack Sock, who trashed Bradley Klahn in straight sets to set up this meeting.
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