Michal Przysiezny outmuscles Stefan Kozlov in the opening round – Newport ATP 2013
Polish star, Michael Przysiezny, required three sets to overpower the ATP World Tour debutant, Stefan Kozlov, at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships 2013 on Monday.
He summed up a 6-3, 6-7(9), 6-4 victory against the local wild card entrant to secure a spot in the second round at this grass court event being held in Newport, United States.
The polish star faced tough challenge against the 15-year-old and lost the second set. However, he re-focused again in the end of the deciding set and ultimately pocketed the match in almost two and half hours.
The beaming Pole was quoted in a courtside interview after recording the victory, “Normally you cannot practise with a guy who is 15, but here I almost lost the match. He’s great for his age.”
Przysiezny made a comfortable entry at this ATP World Tour 250 series event. He smoothly bagged his entire serves and got the breakthrough in the sixth game, eventually sealing the opener by winning six games to three.
Ranked 1472nd in the Emirates Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Kozlov changed his strategy in the following set. He went on a four-game killing spree before Przysiezny could come on the score sheet. Despite squandering his edge in the seventh game, the teenager
remained focused and dragged the set to a tie-breaker. He edged past the Pole in it and eventually grabbed the equaliser with a 7-6(9) win.
The 29-year-old re-gained his strength in the deciding set. He broke the youngster’s opening serve and leaped to a 3-0 lead. Regardless of losing his following two serves, the Pole stayed calm and eventually recovered at 4-4. Przysiezny cashed another break
chance in the last game and clinched the decider with a 6-4 score line.
Summing up the veteran’s performance, Przysiezny clobbered a higher first serve share of 69 per cent in contrast with the local challenger’s 44 per cent and amazingly availed 53 out of 77 points on it. He also hammered 10 aces and ended the match with 118
points.
The French contestant, Adrian Mannarino, also stole the show and progressed into the second round. He triumphed over the 2002 finalist, James Blake, in a three-set thriller to advance. The Frenchman lost his track in the second set but lifted his game in
the deciding set, consequently securing a 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 victory. Mannarino will take on the second seed, John Isner. The defending champion eased past Ryan Harrison in straight sets to set-up this epic battle.
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