Sergiy Stakhovsky defeats Victor Hanescu in the first round of Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky, ranked 36th in the world, fought back after the second set bashing to prevail over world number 65 Victor Hanescu of Romania in three sets 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(6) in the first round of the Internazionali
BNL d'Italia at Foro Italico in Rome on Monday. It took Stakhovsky two hours and seven minutes to undo his opponent in a marathon match.
In the first set, the Ukrainian needed a single break of serve to win 6-3. Stakhovsky served tremendously well, firing five aces and 63 percent of the first serves in the opening set. The right-handed captured a whopping 85 percent
of the first service points. On the other hand, Hanescu hit two aces but his first serve percentage was far better than his opponent, hitting 79 percent of the first serves and winning 87 percent of the points on them in the opening set. However, The Romanian
failed to save the only break point he faced in the first set.
After losing the first set, Hanescu looked a completely different player in the second set. The Romanian was almost flawless, dropping only one game and breaking his opponent twice to claim the set 6-1.
The right-handed hit a single ace and 74 percent of the first serves, claiming an amazing 100 percent of the first service points in the second set. While, Stakhovsky managed to keep his first serve percentage at 64 percent and
won 57 percent of the points on his first serve in the second set. Hanescu converted two of the four break points he received in the second set.
Stakhovsky and Hanescu held their serve in the first six games of the deciding set to level the score at 3-3. The Ukrainian broke Hanescu in the seventh game and held his next service game to go ahead 5-3. However, the Romanian
did not allow Stakhovsky to serve out the set and won two consecutive games to tie the score at 5-5. Stakhovsky hit a forehand winner to earn a late mini-break in the tie-break and grabbed it 8-6.
The Romanian neither hit an ace nor committed any double fault in the third set. The 25-year-old improved his serve as compared to the second set, delivering 78 percent of the first serves and capturing 69 percent of the points
on them in the second set. In comparison, Hanescu hit 77 percent of the first serves and converted 78 percent of them into points. Stakhovsky saved two of the three break points he faced and capitalized on one of the two break point opportunities he created
in the third set.
The six feet and four inches tall is slated to take on Finn Jarkko Nieminen, ranked 59th in the world, in the second round.
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