Mikhail Kukushkin outfoxes Florian Mayer to advance into round two – Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2012
Kazakh qualifier, Mikhail Kukushkin, dodged the 20th ranked German, Florian Mayer, to win a three-setter first round clash of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters on Tuesday. It was a gruelling battle at the red clay courts
of France that lasted for an hour and 54 minutes.
It was a tradition start to the encounter with both players registering serve holds and swapping breakpoints in the first four games of the match. Serve holds at both ends further pushed the scores to 3-3 before the qualifier lost
another serve game to go down 3-4 in the opening set. Mayer took hold of the proceedings, hung on to his serve and won another breakthrough to finish off the opening set proceedings.
The second set witnessed a terrific start with the longest game of the match. Mayer tried hard to keep his opponent away from taking an early lead but he failed to do so after saving five breakpoints on the trot. Another terrible
mistake cost him the second serve game as well and his rival was away to a fantastic start with a resounding lead of 4-0.
Just one game was spared for the 14th seed German who bagged the second part of the match with ease. He won three breakpoints and dropped no game on his serve to confirm the win. It was a commanding performance after
a terrible first set ending.
Stage was set for a grand battle in the final set. Mayer was the one who was under the cosh after dropping a couple of serve games just like the second set. Kukushkin grabbed a lead of 4-0 but gifted one breakpoint back that depleted
the lead to 4-2 in the meantime.
However, there were no breakpoints dropped by the Kazakh qualifier in the remaining part of the match that booked him the spot in the second round of the tournament. He was ecstatic at this majestic win. He would definitely test
his luck against the Italian tennis ace, Filippo Volandri, in the next round.
Earlier in the day, Volandri plonked his compatriot, Alessandro Giannessi, in straight sets to march into next round.
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