Tim Smyczek upsets Ricardas Berankis in final qualifying round – US Open 2012
Local challenger, Tim Smyczek, stunned the qualifying third seed, Ricardas Berankis, in a three-set thriller at the US Open 2012 on Friday. He hit back to formulate a 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4 victory against the booming Lithuanian to power into the main draw at this major hard court event held in Corona Park in Queens, United States.
Smyczek remained focused throughout the marathon and eventually upset the high-spirited youngster, who made a final showdown at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles. As a result, the American recorded third straight victory against Berankis and advanced into the opening round at this last of the four Grand Slam events held in New York City.
The seed entered the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with poise. He hammered 10 winners and despite clobbering a lower first serve share, Berankis held his entire serves. However, he failed to get a breakthrough and took the set to a tie-breaker. The Lithuanian star dominated in it and eventually clicked the opener with a 7-6(4) success.
Ranked 179th in the South African Airways ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour Rankings, Smyczek lifted his game in the following set. He fired 15 winners and dusted away all three breakpoints he faced to keep his entire serves. The American capitalised on one out of two break chances in the 11th game and pulled out the equaliser with a 7-5 win.
The match could have gone in any direction but the underdog carried his momentum in the final set. He got the desiderated break in the seventh game and leaped to a 4-3 lead. Regardless of levelling the scores in the very next game, the American broke his opponent’s serve once again and subsequently sealed the decider by winning six games to four.
All in all, Smyczek manifested a better first serve share of 56 per cent as opposed to the Lithuanian’s 52 per cent and amazingly marked 50 out of 64 points on it. He also hammered 37 winners and ended the deal with 118 points.
Smyczek will face off his fellow qualifying compatriot, Bobby Reynolds, in the first round.
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