Mikhail Kukushkin dismantles Lukas Rosol in opening round – Kremlin Cup 2011
Mikhail Kukushkin, Kazakhstani world No. 65, made his way into the second round of the Kremlin Cup 2011 ousting Czech Lukas Rosol, world No.79, in straight sets 7-6(5), 7-5 on Monday, 17th October. Battling it out at
the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia, it took the Kazakh an hour and 46 minutes to finish off with a win.
With the two challengers taking their sides, Kukushkin took off with serving first and rolled down the scoreboard, 1-0. Levelling up next, Rosol followed with a win, 1-1, switching the serve back to the Kazakh. Serving out game
3, 2-1, world No.65, Kukushkin broke next, 3-1, and led the set.
Dominating through the first set start, the 23-year-old Kazakh continued to extend his lead winning game 5, third in a row, 4-1. However, Rosol smashed away his second win, 4-2, broke next, 4-3, and served out game 8 to level up
the scores, 4-4.
Kazakh pulled off winning game 8, however, could not finish off early. Levelling up at 5-5, the set entered the tiebreaker with Kukushkin to serve first. Outplaying the world No.79, Rosol, in the tiebreaker, Kukushkin took away
the first set with a close run, 7-6(5), and onto the next set.
Rosol, serving out the first game of set 2, saved a breakpoint and rolled down the scoreboard, 1-0. Kukushkin, dominating throughout the match, served out the next game to level up, 1-1, and broke the world No.79 to extend his
lead to 2-1.
Taking advantage of the breakpoint, the Kazakh went on bagging game 4, 3-1, and stood to return again. Rosol struck back as he served out game 5, 3-2, and broke back in game 6 to level up again at 3-3. With the two winning games
while saving breakpoints, levelled up at 4-4 and then at 5-5 before the higher ranked contender ignited.
The set finished off with Kukushkin breaking the Czech in game 11, 6-5, and serving out game 12 to finish off the set, 7-5, winning the match in straight sets to make it to the next round of the ATP World Tour 250 event.
Statistically, the two had equally matched each other, with 7 aces each and almost the same percentage of serve accuracy. However, winning 52 service and 40 return points, the 23-year-old totalled 92 points, against 83 of his
challenger, to ensure survival at the event.
Qualifying into round 2 of the Kremlin Cup 2011, Kukushkin now faces the winner of the match between Alex Bogomolov, American, and Serbian, Dusan Lajovic.
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