Sergiy Stakhovsky advances at Pilot Pen despite scheduling
It was another long day for Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky on Thursday but a triumphant one nonetheless. Stakhovsky had to complete two matches to advance to the quarter-finals of the Pilot Pen tennis tournament.
The number nine seed first had to finish his third-round match against Spaniard Tommy Robredo. The match began on Wednesday, but was suspended due to rain during the first-set tiebreaker. When the match resumed Thursday morning Stakhovsky was able to close out the first set, taking the tiebreaker 7-5. He then finished off Robredo by taking the second set 6-2 to advance to the next round against top-seed Marcos Baghdatis. That match began just a few hours later.
Although Baghdatis was the fresher of the two to start the match, he certainly looked the more tired of the two as the match progressed. After dropping the first set 5-7, Stakhovsky was able to rally back in the second set and clearly had Baghdatis off balance with a fine display drop shots, slices and changes of speed to win the second set 6-1.
"I had to make a lot of sprints, you know," Baghdatis said. "I felt my legs a bit tired after. I couldn't be 100 per cent."
Baghdatis was able to shake off the tough second set as the two went back and fourth in the third set which eventually had to be settled by a tiebreaker. Despite his longer day, it was Stakhovsky who prevailed taking the tiebreaker 7-4 to close out the match.
Stakhovsky admitted after the match that he was tired as well.
"I would say I have a nice long streak here in tennis," he said. "I don't need a hotel. I could sleep in the lounge."
It was the second straight day that Stakhovsky had to face multiple opponents. On Tuesday, Stakhovsky had his first round match against Peter Luzak suspended due to darkness. That match resumed Wednesday with Stakhovsky coming out on top 6-3, 7-6 (4). He then began his match against Robredo later that evening before rain suspended play.
Stakhovsky will now play Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker in the semi-finals on Friday. Currently ranked no. 52 in the world, de Bakker defeated Evgeny Korolev 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday to advance.
The other semifinal will feature Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan taking on Viktor Troicki of Serbia.
Troicki advanced to the semifinals after defeating Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-3. Istomin advanced after coming out on top of a tough three set match against Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia, winning 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8).
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