Tim Smyczek upsets Rogerio Dutra Silva to reach quarters – Tallahassee Tennis Challenger 2012
Local rising star, Tim Smyczek, hit back to stun the seventh seed, Rogerio Dutra Silva, in a three set nail-biter at the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger 2012 on Wednesday. He summed up a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 score line against the Brazilian veteran to enter the final
eight at this hard court event taking place in Tallahassee, Florida.
Smyczek showed brilliant skills to shock the world number 116 in the second round at these Floridian hard courts. Facing each other for the first time, the American assertively advanced at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Challenger Tour event.
The Sao Paulo native entered the Forestmeadows Tennis Complex with poise and held his serve in the second game. After the American held his serve in the following game, Smyczek went out of control and reeled off the next five games in a row, subsequently
sealing the opener by winning six games to two.
The 24-year-old on the other side of net got in action in the follow-up set. He got the critical break in the second game and swiftly went 3-0 up. Smyczek then kept remaining serves after saving the lone breakpoint he faced and pulled out the equaliser with
a 6-3 win.
Smyczek lost his track again and suffered the first blow in the second game to go 0-2 down. Despite recovering in the very next game, he lost his serve again and trailed at 1-3. However, the American made a spectacular reply after that and went on a five-game
rampage, ultimately clinching the decider with a 6-3 score line.
Overall, the American registered impressive stats as he produced a higher first serve share and impressively availed 36 out of 56 points on it. Smyczek warded off seven out of 11 breakpoints he faced and converted five out of 12 break chances to his advantage.
Up next for Smyczek is another seeded player, Igor Kunitsyn from Russia. The Third seed battled past the Romanian lucky loser, Catalin-Ionut Gard in three sets to set-up this epic match. He lost his serve twice but cashed in half of the six break opportunities
to steal the show.
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