Tennis Malaysian Open Men’s competition: Saturday’s Preview
The semi-final round of the Malaysian Open Men’s competition on Saturday will highlight Russian Mikhail Youzhny, Igor Andreev along with David Ferrer and Andrey Golubev from Kazakhstan.
In the first semi-final, Mikhail the fourth seed will take on Igor, who is a former top twenty tennis contender as well as the victor of three ATP World Tour crowns. He is attempting to capture his first ATP World Tour crown since 2005. The 27-year-old Igor
is playing in his second ATP World Tour semi-final in 2010, the first since February in Costa do Sauipe. Moreover, he was also a quarterfinalist on three occasions, on clay. He is hoping to make his way into his first ATP World Tour title battle since July
20 back in 2008 and tenth overall in his career. Igor won his last crown back in 2005 after getting the better of Kiefer in Moscow. He enjoys a match record of 17-16 this year, and will improve his ranking into the top hundred after making his way into the
finals in Kuala Lumpur.
World number nine, Mikhail on the other hand, is attempting to qualify for the year ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London on the very first occasion in his career. He is 1-2 in finals in 2010 and is coming off a semi-final run in New York back
in September. He is hoping to reach his sixteen career ATP World Tour final and sixth in Asia. His best season end ranking was number sixteen back in 2004.
In the second semi-final on Saturday, David will take on Golubev in Kuala Lumpur. In April, Ferrer triumphed comfortably in Monte-Carlo. He is making his ninth ATP World Tour semi-final run in 2010 and is 1-2 in the title battle. The 28-year-old David enjoys
a match record of 48-17. He stands at 3-5 in the semi-final clashes, and hopes to advance into his fourth ATP World Tour final in 2010. This week, the Valencia resident stands at number two in return games as he won 41% in Kuala Lumpur. Ferrer captured his
eight career crown Acapulco after successfully getting the better of Ferrero. He was also a finalist Buenos Aires. He reached his career high ranking of world number four back in 2008.
Golubev, on the other hand, is the only contender remaining yet to miss a set this week and he is coming off the greatest victory of his professional life over world number five Robin Soderling on Friday. In July, Golubev won his first career ATP World
Tour crown in Hamburg.
The 23-year-old Golubev, who is the top tennis star from Kazakhstan, is one of the most improved contenders on the ATP World Tour in 2010, jumping to number 133 back in 2009 to number 41. He enjoys a match record of 21-15 on the year. Golubev leads the championship
in service games as he won 93% in his first three clashes in Kuala Lumpur. Earlier in July, he did not even miss a single set on his way into the title battle in Hamburg, defeating Nikolay Davydenko in the third round and Jurgen Melzer in the finals, and thus
improved his rankings to number thirty seven in the world by the Association of tennis professionals. He is hoping to advance into his third career ATP World Tour title battle. Last month, he also helped his country to the Davis Cup World Group on the first
occasion by recording two singles victories against Switzerland.
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