Mikhail Youzhny prevails over Matthias Bachinger in the first round of BMW Open
Defending champion, world number 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia defeated German wild card entrant Matthias Bachinger, ranked 96th in the world, in straight sets 7-5, 6-2 in the opening round at the BMW Open in Munich on Monday. The Russian took an hour and 37 minutes to oust his opponent.
Youzhny took an early lead as he broke Bachinger in the third game and held his next service game to take a 3-1 lead. Both players held their serve in the next five games to take the score to 5-4 in favour of Youzhny. Serving for the set at 5-4, Youzhny failed to hold his serve. However, the Russian broke again in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead and this time he successfully served out the set in the 12th game.
The 28-year-old hit a single ace and did not commit any double fault in the first set. Youzhny kept his first serve percentage at 71 percent and won 64 percent of the points on his first serve in the opening set. On the other hand, Bachinger had a lower first serve percentage as he delivered just 47 percent of the first serves, converting the same percentage of them into points in the opening set. The German could save just one of the three break points he faced in the first set.
After winning a tough opening set, Youzhny thrashed his opponent in the second set as he broke the German twice to claim the set 6-2.
The Russian fired a couple of aces and hit a single double fault in the second set. Youzhny delivered 55 percent of the first serves, winning 71 percent of the points on them in the second set. While, Bachinger hit 74 percent of the first serves and converted 60 percent of them into points in the second set. The German saved just one of the three break points he faced in the second set. The 24-year-old failed to convert any of the three break points he received in the second set.
Youzhny said, talking to the reporters after the match, “It was a little tough today because I haven’t played a lot of matches this year and being in Moscow I haven’t had a chance to practise on clay.”
The Russian added, "I like the atmosphere but it’s a totally different feeling to last year when I came into the tournament having spent more time on the clay and having played Rome.”
Youzhny is drawn to face either world number 44 Ivan Dodig of Croatia or German Philipp Petzschner, ranked 76th in the world, in the second round.
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