Mikhail Youzhny conquers Lukas Lacko in the title-round – PBZ Zagreb Indoors 2012
Third seed, Mikhail Youzhny, tumbled over the Slovakian competitor, Lukas Lacko, in straight sets at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors 2012 on Sunday. He clobbered a 6-2, 6-3 victory over the world number 97 to grab his maiden year-to-date title at this ATP (Association
of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event taking place in Zagreb, Croatia.
The highly enthusiastic Russian showed top notch performance at the Dom Sportova and dumped the 24-year-old in an hour and nine minutes long marathon. After earning this success, Youzhny not only improved to a 4-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against the Slovak
but also lifted his eighth career title.
"It feels really good, as it was my best match of the tournament, and that’s why I won today," said the beaming Russian. "It’s tough to compare my level today with previous years, it’s impossible. But for sure today was my best tennis of the week."
Youzhny assertively entered the opening set and drew the first blood in the fourth game. He kept his composure in the remaining match and capitalised on another break chance in the last game, eventually sealing the success by winning six games.
The 29-year-old stormed into the following set and bagged the opening three games successively with a break of serve. He later maintained consistency in his game and swiped in remaining serves, ultimately clinching the set with a 6-3 score line.
Overall, the Russian produced a first serve share of 65 percent and impressively clicked 22 out of 31 points on it. Youzhny never faced any real challenge while keeping his serves and cashed in three out of seven break opportunities to dominate.
The Bratislava native on the other hand wasn’t at his best. Apart from hitting six aces and clobbering a better first serve share, he failed to seek any break opportunity, eventually suffering a straight set defeat.
"I wasn't nervous. I didn't play my best. He was just too good today. If I take my four matches before,” The first time finalist commented about his performance. “I was the one applying pressure, attacking most of the shots. Today was the opposite. I was
under pressure."
Later that day, Youzhny teamed up with Cyprus’ Marcos Baghdatis to trounce the local wild card entrants, Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic, in straight sets, subsequently lifting the doubles title at this event.
The Russian became the first player to capture both singles and doubles title at an event this season. The last player to triumph at both events of any tournament was Andy Murray who lifted both titles at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships in 2011.
Tags: