Ryan Harrison edges past Vasek Pospisil into the second round – AEGON International 2012
53rd ranked, Ryan Harrison of USA, came back after getting stunned in the opener to overcome the challenge of the world number 105, Vasek Pospisil of Canada. He dumped him at 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(6) in the first round at
the AEGON International in Eastbourne, England on Monday.
The American needed two hours and 29 minutes to win a fiercely contested match.
Harrison and Pospisil started off by holding their serves in the first three games and took the score to 2-1 in the latter’s favour. The Canadian hit a blow to Harrison in the fourth and consolidated on it to grab a 4-1 advantage.
Pospisil sustained his lead till the end, winning it 6-3.
The Canadian fired three aces but also committed a couple of double faults in the first set. The 6ft 4in tall kept his first serve percentage at 67 and won 15 of the 18 points on them. The 21-year-old did not come across any break
threat and utilised one of the two opportunities he created.
In the second set, both players did not allow each other to break serve throughout, levelling the score at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. They went on equal terms till 2-2 but then Harrison did not allow his opponent to win
any point, grabbing five consecutively to triumph 7-6(2).
The American banged in two aces and 51 percent of the first deliveries in the second set. His conversion rate was incredible, as he pocketed 14 of the 19 first and 16 of the 18 second delivery points. The Texas, USA resident failed
to convert any of the two break points he received but also saved the one he faced.
The proceedings in the decider were not much different from the second set, as Harrison and Pospisil held all of their serves to take the score to 6-6 and force a tie-breaker. The American raced to a 3-0 lead but Pospisil fought
back to equalise the points at 4-4. However, Harrison drew the final blood, as he snatched the last two points to capture it 7-6(6).
The American smacked one ace and made equal number of double fault, putting in 68 percent of the first serves. The 20-year-old’s conversion rate was impressive once again, as he won 20 of the 26 first and nine of the 12 second
delivery points.
Harrison is slated to meet either Chinese Taipei’s Yen-Hsun Lu or the fifth seed, Julien Benneteau of France, in the round of 16.
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