Michael Yani tumbles Sanam Singh to reach main draw – Proton Malaysian Open 2012
Qualifying second seed, Michael Yani from United States edged past the Indian contestant, Sanam Singh, in straight sets at the Proton Malaysian Open 2012 on Sunday. He recorded a 6-4, 7-6(4) success against the 24-year-old to secure a spot in the main draw at this indoor hard court event held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The American veteran fended off late resilience posed by Singh to power into the opening round at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 Series tournament.
The Singaporean-born Yani assertively entered the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil. He smoothly plucked his entire serves after dusting away the only breakpoint he faced. The American got the breakthrough in the ninth game after capitalising on one out of five break chances and clicked the opener with a 6-4 win.
Ranked 238th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Yani held his composure in the following set. He suffered the first blow in the eighth game but quickly counterattacked in the very next game, eventually levelling the scores at 5-5. The set went to a tie-breaker where the American prevail, ultimately pulling out the set with a 7-6(4) score line.
The 31-year-old prevailed throughout the one hour and 54-minute encounter. He hammered six aces and finished the match with 95 points. Yani also manifested a better first serve share of 62 per cent in contrast with Singh’s 53 per cent and amazingly clicked 36 out of 51 points on it.
Yani will square off against his compatriot, Brian Baker, in the opening round.
The qualifying third seed, Riccardo Ghedin from Italy, will join Yani in the main draw. He made an epic comeback from a set down to trash Philippines Treat Conrad Huey in a three-set thriller to progress.
The world number 277 failed to block the lone breakpoint he faced in the opening set which led him suffer a 4-6 defeat. However, he sought his momentum afterwards and with a single break of serve, the Italian grabbed the equaliser with a 6-4 win. Ghedin then prevailed in the tie-breaker of the deciding set and consequently clinched the decider with a 7-6(8) score line.
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