Tatsuma Ito jumps over Jean-Rene Lisnard into final qualifier – Malaysian Open 2011
Tatsuma Ito, Japanese ousted Jean-Rene Lisnard of Monaco in an hour and 34 minutes as the two met for their qualifying second round match at the 2011 Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 25th September.
Playing on indoor hard circuit, Japanese world No.130 swiped away with mere difficulty and forming a stronger defence to tackle the Monacan. Although Ito had a bitter season start, managed to kick back his winning form and took
over the first two qualifiers of the ATP tour 250.
With the two walking to take their positions, Lisnard won the service toss and served the match opener. Falling short, the Monacan lost the first battle giving away a breakpoint in the first game. Ito took advantage and stormed
the 2ndgame pressurizing his 32-year-old rival.
Winning a game each next, Lisnard served game 5 aiming to cut down the lead. However, falling short for the second time in the set, the old Monacan gave away another breakpoint triggering a chain. With two breakpoint wins for the
two, the scores reached 5-3 with Lisnard to serve next.
Serving out game 9, Lisnard came back in the game breaking the Japanese and levelling up the scores at 5-5. Eventually the two ended up battling out for the tiebreaker. Even though the Monacan had a strong come back, Ito did not
let him pass by. Winning the tiebreaker 7-5, the 23-year-old moved on for the set 2 win.
Dominating throughout the match, Ito fired up the second set winning the first game with 3 game points, 1-0. Breaking the Monacan early again, the Japanese sensation went on extending his lead to 3-0 before Lisnard rolled down
his part of the scorecard, 1-3.
Extending his lead to 4-1, the 23-year-old broke his opponent for the second time in the set and led the set 5-1. Breaking back next, the Monacan seemed redoing the first set, however, could not put forward a strong offence. Ito
went marvellous as he finished off with the 2nd qualifier in style, breaking the old runner in game 8 and taking away the set 2.
With a straight set win in the 2nd stage of the qualifiers, Ito now sits to rumble in the final round of the qualifier against Russian Mikhail Ledovskikh for a spot in the main draw of the Malaysian open 2011. Considering his seeding,
No.2, Ito is predicted an easy win over his Russian opponent.
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