Uladzimir Ignatik surprises Lukas Lacko in the final – Tashkent Challenger 2012 CH
Top seeded, Lukas Lacko, received a straight set shocker at the hands of the Belarusian native, Uladzimir Ignatik, in the final round of the Tashkent Challenger 2012 held at the hard courts of Plexipave, Uzbekistan. Ignatik displayed
a remarkable serve and clinched the title victory 6-3, 7-6(3) on the eve of Sunday.
Previously the duo encountered each other at the clay courts of the Ostrava Challenger 2011. After a fierce battle, the Belarusian native consolidated his remarkable three setter 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win in the first round. This ATP Challenger
proved to be second straight win against the Slovakian professional.
The 22-year-old, Ignatik, displayed his superior run of form since the start he stepped on the hard courts. Despite of the pressure of the higher ranked challenger, he sustained his poise and beautifully served throughout. He nudged
forward to cash the lone break opportunity in the fourth game, which automatically gave him the upper hand. Nonetheless, the two players progressed in the set with a proactive game plan and preserved their serves in the games to follow. The Slovakian struggled
hard but he was unable to encounter the might of his rival and his pace eventually died down. Ignatik smartly advanced to reel off all the games and terminated the initial set with a 6-3 score line.
Ranked 195th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Ignatik, sustained his composure in the second set but had to face a tough competition by his rival. The score line levelled down after every other game,
with both the players desperately wanting to secure the win. Surprisingly both players held the serves throughout and Ignatik continued to deliver exquisite backhands but was unable to attain his desirable break so quick. The right-hander Slovakian professional
maintained his rhythm and brushed away the entire serve break presented to him. The Belarusian nudged forward and terminated the set with a 7-6(3) after a close set tiebreaker.
The 22-year-old, Ignatik took the lead by firing 17 aces but committed double faults seven times. He had reasonable initial serve of 70 percent, converting 41 of 46 first but just 11 of 20 second delivery points. In comparison
to that, Lacko just fired four aces and had 65 percent initial serve, bagging away 33 of 42 points.
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