Mischa Zverev passes by Go Soeda into second round qualifiers – Shanghai Rolex Masters 2011
With the Shanghai Masters 2011 warming up with its 1st round qualifiers, Mischa Zverev, German world No.171, napalmed the Japanese world No.118, Go Soeda, in a 3 setter match at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena hard
court. Despite the disparity in ranking, the left-handed German stormed the match winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Playing head-to-head for the first time, Soeda had been predicted a win as his prior 10 match run had been better than that of the German. Losing 9 of the past 10 matches Zverev stunned the Japanese throwing him out of the qualifiers.
Firing up with the starter, the German world no.171 rolled down the scoreboard winning game 1, 1-0. Levelling up next, Soeda bagged his first win of the match and switched the serve. Winning on respective games both players rallied
out a game each to level up again at 2-2 before Zverev struck.
Breaking Soeda for the first time, the left hander pulled off winning game 6 and serving out the next game to lead the set 5-2. With one more win to go, Zverev served out game 9 winning the set 6-3 and moved onto the next set.
The world No.118, struck back in the second set to tie up the match scores. Serving out the first game of the set, Soeda took the lead and switched the serve. Rallying out hard both players won 2 games each to level up again at
3-3 before the Japanese struck.
Soeda served out game 7 and broke the world No.171 to lead the set 5-3; however, failing to finish up at that time, the world No.118 fell short and lost the next game, 4-5. Levelling up the scores, 5-5, the German left hander served
out game 10 and stood to return again.
With just 2 more game left to conquer the match, Zverev returned, however, could not break back. Falling short again, world No.171 gave away a cheeky breakpoint and lost the set 7-5 to enter the decider set.
Serving first for the second consecutive time, Soeda got a stunner as the German broke early to lead the set 0-1. Constantly bombarding the higher ranked Japanese, Zverev swirled away winning 2 more game including a second breakpoint
win, game 3, and led the set 3-0.
Soeda, however, twisted back as he broke-n-served next to cut the lead to 2-3. However, could not level up at any point. Maintaining the lead the decider ended with Zverev winning 6-4, and pocketing the match 2-1 and into the next
qualifying round.
The left hander will now play, the top seed for the qualifier, Donald Young, world No.43, to battle it out for a spot in the main draw of the event.
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