Viktor Troicki expels Donald Young to advance in round two – Mutua Madrid Open 2012
World number 30, Viktor Troicki, faced a little difficulty in ousting the 50th ranked American, Donald Young, in the opening round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday. He won the first set with ease but lost the second
one; however recovered well to grab the final one with scores of 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 respectively.
Ironically, both the Top-50 players had never faced each other before so it was a test of nerves as well as class and the 26-year-old Serb proved his worth by keeping calm and registering a win. The opening set witnessed three
successive breakthroughs falling in favour of the Serb who was the first to hold serve and take a lead of 3-1.
The momentum continued and Troicki broke serve for the third time in a row to register an unassailable lead of 4-1. He bagged the following serve game and didn’t allow Young to register a single serve hold; cruising past him to
a lead of one set.
Everyone thought that this match would be over with a blink of an eye. However, Troicki, despite saving a couple of breakpoints in the opening serve game, couldn’t hold his opponent and gifted the initial breakthrough. Young showed
immense strength to pull out of the misery and register the first serve hold of the match. It was the most wanted hold that gave him a lead of 2-0.
Both players continued to capitalize on their respective serves and didn’t share any breakpoints in the remaining play of the set. Young was under the cosh for a slight moment in the sixth game but he managed to sneak away with
a tight serve hold and denied his opponent of any breakthroughs.
Stage was set for an epic last set clash. Both players traded three breakpoints on the trot that went in favour of the Serb who took a resounding lead of 4-1. A cracking breakpoint featuring four thunderous winners helped the Serb
to extend his lead to 5-1. After some resistance from his rival, Troicki went ahead where he awaits the winner of the match between the 14th seed Richard Gasquet and Brazilian star, Thomaz Bellucci.
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