Philipp Petzschner knocks out Mikhail Youzhny in the second round of BMW Open
World number 76 Philipp Petzschner of Germany made full use of home support as he upset top seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in three thrilling sets 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-2 in the second round at the BMW Open in Munich on Wednesday. The
German took two hours and 16 minutes to oust his opponent in a close contest.
Petzschner and Youzhny exchanged a single break of serve in the first 12 games of the opening set to level the score at 6-6, forcing a tie-break. The German claimed a single mini-break as he hit a forehand winner in the tie-break,
winning it 7-5.
Petzschner hit two aces and a single double fault in the first set. The 27-year-old delivered 64 percent of the first serves, converting 78 percent of them into points in the opening set. While, Youzhny kept his first serve percentage
at 63 percent and won 64 percent of the points on his first serve. Petzschner capitalized on the only break point opportunity he created in the first set.
Youzhny fought back in the second set, breaking his opponent once and consolidating on it to capture the set 6-3. The Russian improved his service as compared to the opening set as he fired 69 percent of the first serves and converted
78 percent of them into points in the second set. In comparison, Petzschner hit 64 percent of the first serves, winning 79 percent of the points on them. The German failed to save the only break point he faced in the second set.
In the deciding set, Petzschner regained his form and broke Youzhny twice, winning the set 6-2. The right-handed hit a single ace and the same number of double fault in the final set. The German served quite well as he delivered
81 percent of the first serves in the third set and claimed 88 percent of the first service points. Petzschner did not face any break point in the deciding set. The six feet and one inch tall won both break points he received in the final set.
The German took revenge of his 5-7, 6-7(5) loss at the hands of Youzhny in the semi-finals of BMW Open last year.
With this win, Petzschner improved to a 6-3 win/loss record at BMW Open. In his maiden appearance here, he German was beaten by Marin Cilic of Croatia in straight sets 4-6, 6-7(7) in the round of 16 in 2008.
The German is drawn to meet Italian Potito Starace, ranked 43rd in the world, in the quarter-finals. Starace defeated world number 39 Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in the second round.
Tags: