Viktor Troicki upsets Mikhail Youzhny to seal tie win at Power Horse World Team Cup
Russian hopes faded away when the world number 13, Mikhail Youzhny got defeated at the hands of the 16th ranked Serbian, Viktor Troicki in the singles rubber of the Power Horse World Team Cup on Tuesday. Troicki wrapped
up his comprehensive straight sets victory 6-3, 6-1, to assist his side win the contest in round robin stage of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 event.
After suffering a humiliating 0-3 defeat at Germany’s hands, Team Serbia made a tremendous comeback in the competition, tearing apart the Russian squad in their second tie of the round robin. Dusan Lajovic won the first singles
rubber against the Russian, Igor Andreev and Troicki followed him by bagging victory in his matchup to give Serbia an invincible 2-0 lead in the contest.
The Serbian put up an extraordinary display of pro tennis to outplay the top class Russian competitor to register his 21st victory in the running ATP season. The last time these two men met was in the round of 32 of
Roland Garros last year, when Youzhny took down the Serbian 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-3. Troicki finally avenged his defeat from Youzhny and his victory at Dusseldorf levelled his all-time head-to-head series against the Russian to 2-2.
25-year-old Troicki cashed in most of his chances in the game to keep ahead of his opponent. He crafted 11 break opportunities and converted six of them en route to victory. Youzhny showed some signs of life in the opener but proved
to be a wall of sand in the following set, winning just one game before bestowing victory to his opponent.
A stiff contest was observed at the beginning of the match but the Russian’s flare faded away as the game proceeded. Youzhny suffered a serve break first up but retaliated with the same to nullify his opponent’s advantage. The
crafty Serb shifted his gears from there onwards and reeled off three consecutive games, breaking Youzhny in the eighth game, to take the first set at 6-3.
Things turned even worse for the Russian in the next set, as Troicki launched a series of attacking moves at him. The Serb stung four break points to the Russian serve to push him out of the contest. Youzhny broke once, the only
game he won in the second set and had no choice but to submit the match to his superior opponent at 1-6.
Youzhny’s defeat ensured Russia’s defeat in the tie against Serbia, as Andreev had already lost his singles rubber. After a shaky start to the World Team Cup, Team Serbia has gradually has its winning form back.
Tags: