Radek Stepanek ousts Philipp Petzschner in first round – Legg Mason Tennis Classic 2011
Monday’s play at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic was off to a flying start with Czech Radek Stepanek securing an effectual triumph over his German opponent Philipp Petzschner in their first round match in Washington D.C. Faltering
only slightly in the second set, Stepanek scored a decisive 6-7(2), 4-6, 6-0 win in an excruciatingly long two hours and eleven minutes match. An ATP World Tour 500 tournament, the Legg Mason has garnered an enviable reputation as an Olympus US Open Series
event in the lead up to the commencement of games at Flushing Meadows.
The former World No.8 Stepanek has previously played thrice at the Washington event. He registered his best performance its 2007 edition when he sauntered to the third round, before losing to American giant Andy Roddick. Having
received a first round bye in 2010, the Czech had fallen victim to Marco Chiudinelli in his opening match. Gradually rising back on the rankings’ chart, Stepanek last played at the clay courts of Hamburg in early July losing in the third round to World No.
7 Gael Monfils.
German Petzschner, currently ranked at No. 79 came into the tournament with a substantial win loss standing of 19-15. He last played at Washington in 2009 and performed exceptionally. Swerving past giants Mardy Fish and Teymuraz
Gabashvili, the German lost his third round match against Tomas Berdych 6-4, 3-6, 3-6.
It was Stepanek’s inability to capitalise on even one of the five breakpoint opportunities that he afforded that cost him the first set. Petzschner fired a volley of 5 aces taking the set into tie break. The German eased past Stepanek
by limiting him to just 2 points in the tiebreak. However the defeat in the first set reawakened Stepanek, who fought back with vengeance. Registering 4 demoralizing serve breaks, Stepanek obliterated his opponent and won the next two sets defiantly at 6-4,
6-0. Petzschner’s 5 aces in the last two sets didn’t prove beneficial because he offset their effect by committing 5 brutally criminal double faults.
Stepanek now anchored securely in his second round berth, will duel with American lucky loser Wayne Odesnik. The American qualified for the main draws, courtesy of top American Mardy Fish who was forced to withdraw from the tournament
due to a heel injury.
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