Philipp Kohlschreiber beats Mikhail Youzhny in the first round of Internazionali BNL d’Italia
World number 45 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany upset world number 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in the first round at the Internazionali BNL d’italia in Rome on Sunday. It took the German one hour and 34 minutes to undo Youzhny in a one-sided contest.
Kohlschreiber broke his opponent in the opening game of the first set and held his next service game to take a 2-0 lead. The German and Youzhny held their serve in the next seven games, taking the score to 5-4 in favour of Kohlschreiber. Serving for the set in the tenth game, the right-handed successfully held his serve to win the set 6-4.
The German hit a single ace and two double faults in the first set. Kohlschreiber kept his first serve percentage at 64 percent and converted 68 percent of the first serves into points in the opening set. On the other hand, Youzhny served better as he fired 68 percent of the first serves and won 79 percent of the points on them. The Russian failed to save the only break point he faced in the opening set. Whereas, Kohlschreiber managed to save all the six break points he faced in the first set.
Kohlschreiber carried the winning momentum into the second set, breaking Youzhny in the fifth and seventh game to clinch the set 6-2.
The German served two aces and hit the same number of double faults in the second set. The 27-year-old delivered 73 percent of the first serves, claiming 79 percent of the points on them in the second set. In comparison, Youzhny hit 75 percent of the first serves, converting 67 percent of them into points. The Russian grabbed 21 percent of the first return points in the second set. While, Kohlschreiber converted 33 percent of his first returns into points. The German saved the only break point he faced and capitalized on both break point chances he created in the second set.
The right-handed has failed to reach the semi-finals stage at any of the nine tournaments he has played this year. The German was toppled by Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic in straight sets 4-6, 0-6 in the quarterfinals at the BMW Open in his last tournament.
This is Kohlschreiber’s third appearance at the Internazionali BNL d’italia. In his maiden appearance here, the German defeated Simone Bolelli of Italy in three sets 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 in the first round. However, the five feet and ten inches tall tasted defeat at the hand of Spaniard Tommy Robredo in the next match, losing 2-6, 6-7(5) in the round of 32. Kohlschreiber was thrashed by another Spaniard Rafael Nadal, ranked 3rd at that time, in straight sets 1-6, 3-6 in the second round last year.
The German is drawn to play either world number 40, Spanish Feliciano Lopez or French Michael Llodra, ranked 21st in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, in the second round.
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