Viktor Troicki battles past Sergiy Stakhovsky into the second round – Thailand Open 2012
Sixth seed, Viktor Troicki of Serbia, was close of getting upset but managed to come back and defeat Ukraine’s world number 96, Sergiy Stakhovsky, in three sets 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round of the Thailand Open. The event
is being held at the hard courts in the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok.
Troicki and Stakhovsky started the match by winning their serve in the first two games and squaring off the proceedings at 1-1. The Serbian contestant struck in the third and consolidated on it to go up 3-1. Stakhovsky broke back
in the sixth to even out the proceedings at 3-3. Troicki and the Ukrainian player traded one more blow in the rest of the set, levelling the score at 6-6 and taking it to tie-breaker. Stakhovsky grabbed opening four points to take a 4-0 lead and never allowed
Troicki to comeback, closing it 7-6(4).
Once again, Troicki drew the first blood in the second set, nailing a breakthrough in the sixth game to attain a 4-2 lead. Stakhovsky succeeded in pulling it back in the seventh and won his subsequent serve to even out the proceedings
at 4-4. Serving to stay in the set at 5-6, the Ukrainian managed to win only one point and lost it 5-7.
Momentum shifted on Troicki’s side and he started to dominate the proceedings with ease. The Serbian star stung a break in the fourth game and held his next serve to take a 4-1 lead. Stakhovsky reduced the trail to 3-4 but then
lost the following two and went down 3-6.
Troicki said during the post match press conference, "I'm happy with this first-round performance. No matter whom I play in the next round, it will be a tough match again for sure. I hope I can keep playing as well as I did today."
He added, "I love Bangkok, love the city, like the tournament. The people always treat me well here and that’s why I feel happy to play here always. Three years ago I played finals here so I hope I do well again."
Troicki will take on the winner of the match between Gael Monfils and Kevin Anderson in the second round.
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