Sergiy Stakhovsky rallies past Albert Montanes into the second round of Mutua Madrid Open
Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky, ranked 38th in the world, upset world number 26 Albert Montanes of Spain in three thrilling sets 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(5) in the first round at the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday. The match lasted
for two hours and 24 minutes.
Both players failed to break each other in the first set, levelling the score at 6-6 and forcing a tie-break. The Ukrainian clinched a late mini-break in the tie-break to win it 8-6.
The right-handed fired four aces and committed a single double fault in the first set. Stakhovsky hit 59 percent of the first serves, winning 81 percent of the points on them in the opening set. While, Montanes kept his first serve
percentage at 69 percent and converted a whopping 83 percent of them into points.
After losing a tight first set, Montanes bounced back in the second set and broke Stakhovsky in the sixth game, winning the set 6-3.
The 30-year-old delivered 60 percent of the first serves correctly and won 78 percent of the points on them in the second set. The Spaniard capitalized on two of the four break point chances he received in the second set. Montanes
failed to save the only break point he faced in the second set.
Just like the opening set, none of the two players were able to break other’s serve in the final set, taking it to a tie-break. Stakhovsky hit a fine drop shot to grab the only mini-break in the tie-break and claimed it 7-5.
The Ukrainian fired three aces and 56 percent of the first serves in the third set. The 25-year-old captured 80 percent of the first service points in the deciding set. In comparison, Montanes hit two aces and committed as many
double faults in the final set. The Spaniard won 20 percent of the first return points and saved both break points he faced in the third set.
Stakhovsky will meet American John Isner, 33rd in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, in the round of 32. Isner upset his compatriot, world number 11 Mardy Fish in three sets 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(3) in the first
round.
Isner said, talking about his match against Stakhovsky, “I played him two or three years ago on a hard court. I won the match but that was a long time ago and I know he’s improved since then. He’s got a good serve and he’s really
crafty. He slices the ball, has a drop shot, he can do a lot of things”
This will be the second meeting between Stakhovsky and the American. Isner defeated Stakhovsky 6-4, 6-4 in the round of 128 at the Sony Ericsson Open in 2009.
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