Thomas Schoorel breezes past Axel Michon into 2nd round – Tean International 2011 CH
Opening the main draw of the Alphen Challenger was Dutch Thomas Schoorel against French Axel Michon. On the classic clay court of Alphense Tennis Club, Netherlands, the two players battled it out for a place in the second round. In two hours and twenty six minutes the home boy won on his soil bouncing back from a set down with a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4.
Subsequently after winning the pitch, Michon was first to serve, but Schoorel was first to break and initiate the score board to 1-0. However, not wanting the Dutch to take the lead the Frenchmen broke back to level the score at 1-1. In the following nine games both the players kept winning on their serves and it was a blow for a blow. Eventually as Schoorel held his serve in the twelfth game, he pushed the set into a tie breaker.
Head-to-head run between the two players lost steam in the tiebreaker. Despite being a seeded player, Schoorel had a tough time holding the un-seeded Frenchman at bay. Matching blow for blow, the two players kept the score tied for ten points with neither player letting up on their service. However, a costly double fault from Schoorel gave Michon the mini-break he needed as he reeled off two straight points to bag the tiebreaker, 7-5.
After taking a beating in the first set Schoorel had learnt his lesson and this time he smashed an ace during the game point and eventually won the game. He then broke his French adversary Michon in the second game and by holding his serve in the third took the lead at 3-0. A little too late for the Frenchman to start catching up, the players then held their serves in the next two games. The two broke each other back to back once and by the ninth game Schoorel had stamped his victory as he held his serve for the last time.
By the end of the second set, Schoorel was boosting with confidence and was ready to prove his top billing. Although, the players had bagged a set each, it was a comprehensive victory for the 22 year-old Dutch.
Opening the third set was Michon, as both the players kept on winning on alternate serves in the first six games the score was levelled at 3-3. In the seventh game as Michon was serving, the dutch seized the opportunity to break him and by holding his serve in the following game took the lead 5-3. Ultimately in the ninth game Schoorel smashed four successive aces to bag the set and the match.
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