Michal Mertinak edges past Jozef Kovalik into the second round – Slovak Open 2012 CH
In the first round match between a Slovakian qualifier and wild card entrant at the Slovak Open in Bratislava, Michal Mertinak came out as victorious, toppling Jozef Kovalik in three sets 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4.
Mertinak grabbed lead straightaway, breaking Kovalik in the very first game and holding his subsequent serve to attain a 2-0 lead. The qualifier carried his lead till the end of the first set, clinching it 6-4.
The 33-year-old fired five aces and made a single double fault in the first set. The Slovakian kept his first serve percentage at 72 and claimed 18 of the 23 points on them. The right-hander also fared pretty well on the second
deliveries and returns, sealing five of the nine and nine of the 18 points on them respectively.
Kovalik started to play aggressively in the second set and it worked for him, as he hit a blow to his compatriot in the fourth game and consolidated on it to go up 4-1. Though, Mertinak broke back in the ninth and held his following
serve to level it at 5-5. The set was taken to a tie-breaker two games later. Mertinak had four match points at 6-2 but Kovalik played amazingly well to secure six in a row and grab it 7-6(6).
The 20-year-old banged in four aces but his first serve percentage was just 44, winning 15 of the 18 points on them. The youngster was a bit erratic on the second ones, as he lost 10 of the 23 points on them including one double
fault. The Slovakian participant put away one of the two break threats he came across and availed two of the three he created.
After losing the second set with the thinnest of margins, Mertinak captured opening two games in the decider to take a 2-0 lead. However, Kovalik struck back immediately to even out the proceedings at 2-2. Mertinak stung another
break in the ninth and this time he capitalised on it to win 6-4.
The 5ft 11in tall needed two hours and 34 to register this hard fought victory.
Mertinak is pitted against the second seeded player from Croatia, Ivan Dodig, in the second round.
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