Tim Smyczek bounces at Philip Bester to advance in qualifiers at Houston
World number 176, American Tim Smyczek made a comeback win against the world number 247, Canadian Philip Bester in a three set thriller on Sunday. He registered a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over the Canadian to advance in the qualifiers
at the 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship.
Smyczek last met the Canadian on hard courts at Ojai Challenger last year and destroyed Bester with a breadstick. Despite double faulting twice and playing poorly in the opening set, the 23-year-old American displayed fascinating
skills in the second and final set to overpower Bester in two hours and 14 minutes at the River Oaks Country Club.
The 22-year-old Canadian, who has shown an average performance this season and managed to reach the second rounds at Honolulu, Burnie, Caloundra and Rimouski, showed great passion and confidence in the opening set. He clobbered
two aces and had a much better first serve share of 71 percent as compared to Smyczek’s 56 percent. Bester also registered an impressive 80 percent win on it and saved both breakpoints he conceded. Furthermore, he found four breakpoint opportunities and converted
one to his advantage to win the set with a 6-4 score line.
Smyczek, who displayed enormous talent at San Jose making it to the quarter-finals before losing to 2nd seed French Gael Monfils, got back on track in the second set. He smacked two aces, had a much better first serve
share of 62 percent as opposed to Bester’s 46 percent and earned an exceptional 81 percent win on it. Although Smyczek failed to save the only breakpoint, he converted three out of eight breakpoint opportunities to his advantage to clinch the equalizer with
a 6-2 win.
The American carried his winning ways into the decider set as he held his opening serve. Later in the set, he was shaky at times and committed two double faults and many unforced errors. Smyczek also had a lower first serve share
and lost his serve once but he quickly counterattacked and converted two out of four breakpoint opportunities to his advantage to win the final set with a 6-4 score line.
Bester overall had a higher first serve share and found eight breakpoint opportunities but was only able to convert three to his advantage to eventually exit from the tournament.
Smyczek will next another Canadian, Frank Dancevic who upset 3rd seeded Australian Marinko Matosevic with a breadstick to reach this spot.
The 26-year-old Dancevic clearly outplayed his rival by committing less double faults and converting three out of five breakpoint opportunities to his advantage to clinch the match with a 7-6(10), 6-1 win.
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