Richard Muzaev upsets Igor Kunitsyn in qualifiers – Kremlin Cup 2012
In an all-Russian affair, wild card Richard Muzaev stunned qualifying sixth seed Igor Kunitsyn in a three-set thriller at the Kremlin Cup by Bank of Moscow on Sunday. He summed up a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory against the 31-year-old to power into the final round
of the qualifying competition at this indoor hard court event taking place in Moscow.
Muzaev remained focused throughout the battle and eventually sealed the deal in one hour and 41 minutes. Battling each other for the first time, the lower ranked Russian stole the show and comfortably inched towards the main draw.
The 20-year-old made convincing entry at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 Series event. He superbly blocked all five breakpoints he faced to keep his entire serves. Muzaev got the breakthrough in the sixth game and eventually
pulled out the opener with a 6-3 score line.
The world number 151, Kunitsyn rebounded in the proceeding set. He got the coveted break in the second game and leaped to a 3-0 lead. The higher ranked Russian held his composure and swiped his remaining serves, subsequently sealing the equaliser by winning
six games to three. He was never threatened with any barrier and cashed the lone break chance to get back in contention.
Ranked 622nd in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Muzaev lifted his game in the final set which matters the most. He dusted away all four breakpoints he came across to keep his entire serves. The Russian youngster broke Kunitsyn’s
serve in the sixth game and clinched the set with a 6-3 score line. He converted one out of two break opportunities to his advantage.
All in all, the youngster fired six aces and superbly dusted away nine breakpoints he faced. He produced a slightly lower first serve share of 65 per cent as compared to his rival’s 66 per cent and marked 44 out of 65 points on it.
Muzaev will next face Kazakhstan’s Evgeny Korolev who stunned top seeded Romanian, Victor Hanescu, with a breadstick to progress. Korolev was broken once but cashed four out of 14 break opportunities to manifest a 6-4, 6-1 success.
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