Viktor Troicki surges past Ryan Harrison into 2nd round – Legg Mason Tennis Classic 2011
Third seed Viktor Troicki opened his campaign in a resplendent manner by propelling through 7-5, 6-2 in his opening match at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic against wild card entrant Ryan Harrison. Wednesday’s order of play had been
severely disrupted by rain. Harrison had previously delighted American tennis fans by resolutely winning his opening round match against German Mischa Zverev. Troicki’s win secures him a berth in the fourth round of the tournament at Washington.
The 15th ranked Serb; Troicki had a superb start to the year quickly reaching his career highest No. 12 rank in June. Troicki clocked in three ATP quarter final performances and a semi final at Rotterdam, which he lost
to Robin Soderling. The Serb fell short of winning his second ATP title in January, when he finished the Medibank International Sydney runner up to France’s Gilles Simon. Third seed Troicki had earlier got a bye to the second round of the tournament.
Harrison is only the second American teenager, after Andy Roddick to have won against a top 20 player in a Grand Slam. The youngster has recently clocked in impressive semi final performances at Los Angeles and Atlanta, where he
lost both times against top American Mardy Fish. Testament to the player’s form is his 10-13 win loss standing; however, Harrison failed to deliver on Wednesday’s match.
This was the players’ first meeting.
Troicki dominated the match from the start with an onslaught of 13 perfectly executed aces, committing only 3 double faults in the run. Harrison tried at putting up a fight in the first set, serving at 56% while Troicki managed
only 53%. However Troicki managed to veer past his opponent by saving 75% of his breakpoints and conceded only 1. Harrison meanwhile capitulated by failing to save two devastating breakpoints and gave headway to Troicki who sealed the set 7-5. The Serbian
playing from a position of power, propelled through the second set managing to win an impressive 100% of his first serve points. Overwhelmed, Harrison couldn’t manage to set up even a single breakpoint scenario to his opponent. Troicki took benefit of this
weakness and registered two breakpoints to seal the set effectively at 6-2.
Troicki is scheduled to battle next with thirteenth seed South African Kevin Anderson for a place in the third round of the Legg Mason. Anderson had previously halted 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(0) Australian qualifier Chris Guccione’s spectacular
march into the tournament.
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