Nikolaus Moser retires to allow Michael Ryderstedt a main round spot – Bath Challenger 2012
Swede veteran, Michael Ryderstedt, qualified for the main round of the Bath Challenger at the expense of the 21-years-old Austrian, Nikolaus Moser. He was leading the scores 6-2, 4-0 when the Austrian player pulled out of the contest due to an injury.
Crowd was deprived of the full match proceedings but everyone was concerned about the health of the Austrian player who looked miserable while leaving the arena in pain. He was struggling from an injury before the contest but decided the play through the
pain that cost him a lot than he expected. He should have not played the match.
The opening set was clearly dominated by the Swede who gusted away with a lead 2-0 upfront courtesy to a breakpoint in the first game. He kept the lead intact in the following four games as the score crept to 4-2.
Moser was looking good but his shot making was limited due to a severe injury he was carrying into the match. In the following game he gifted another breakthrough that pulled curtains for him. He was in no position to break twice on the trot and keep the
set alive.
A thumping serve hold for the Swede earned him the set lead. He was the hot favourite considering his fantastic run of form in the recent form and superior ranking; the niggling injury to his opponent further enhanced his chances of qualifying for the main
round of the tournament.
The second set of the match witnessed just four games before the physio of the Australian player advised him to quit the encounter. Moser, unwillingly, left the courts and marched towards the sidelines.
As the sweat evaporated and his body cooled down, he felt the pain more and more. Spectators in the arena stood on their feet to give him a standing ovation for playing through pain all this time. In the second set, Ryderstedt broke in succession to take
an unassailable lead that also forced the Austrian to think about quitting the encounter; his chances for qualifying from that stage were almost negligible.
Michael Ryderstedt is one of the four qualifiers who makes their way into the first round.
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