Stanislas Wawrinka battles past Denis Istomin into the third round – Shanghai Rolex Masters 2012
World number 17, Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, booked his place in the last 16 by downing the 44th ranked player, Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round of the Shanghai Rolex
Masters.
Wawrinka and Istomin did not allow each other to break serve in the first six games, taking the score to 3-3. The Swiss player struck in the seventh and consolidated on it to attain a 5-3 lead. Wawrinka capitalised on the advantage
and won his serve in the 10th game to win 6-4.
The Swiss number two smashed three aces and did not commit any double fault, keeping his first serve percentage at 58. The right-hander had a brilliant conversion rate on both first and second deliveries, clinching 13 of the 14
and seven of the 10 points on them respectively in the opener.
Wawrinka and Istomin traded a blow in the first six games of the second set, evening out the proceedings at 3-3. The Uzbek contender succeeded in nailing a break in the 10th one to capture it 6-4.
Istomin banged in three aces and made a single double fault in the second set, marinating a first serve percentage of 72 and pocketing 16 of the 23 points on them. The 26-year-old could not do well on the second deliveries and
first returns, as he lost six of the nine and 10 of the 12 points on them respectively. Though, the Moscow, Russia resident balanced that by securing 10 of the 16 on the second replies.
Opening eight games of the decider went with serve, taking the score to 4-4. Wawrinka bagged a breakthrough in the ninth and made the most of it to win 6-4.
Both players hit four aces but Wawrinka also committed one double fault compared to none by Istomin. The Swiss star delivered 64 percent of the first serves and sealed 18 of the 27 points on them. The 27-year-old put away all the
five break threats he came across in the final set.
Wawrinka is pitted against his Davis Cup team mate and friend, Roger Federer, at the next stage.
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