Match report

Mikhail Youzhny © Tennistalk.com
Kremlin Cup
1st round
10/8/08 1 2 3 Tot
ru  Mikhail Youzhny 5 6 6 1 1
ru  Teimuraz Gabashvili 7 4 7 7 2
Teimuraz Gabashvili © Tennistalk.com

  • Youzhny crashes out of Kremlin Cup

    10/9/08 3:55 AM | David Cox
    3rd seed Mikhail Youzhny suffered a shock first-round defeat against compatriot Teimuraz Gabashvili in the first round of the Kremlin Cup on Wednesday.

    Strangely for a man with such a good indoor record, Youzhny has always performed poorly in Moscow. Whether it's the pressure of being the big home favorite or something else, it's hard to explain the Muscovite's six first-round defeats in his capital city.

    Gabashvili, also a Moscow resident, rose to the occasion on Wednesday to send his more illustrious friend packing 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(1) in nearly three hours.

    In the end there was only a couple of points in it, but it kind of summed up Youzhny's dire summer after a strong beginning to 2008. Youzhny was never quite able to raise his level against a dogged and determined opponent who fired 10 aces during the match. Gabashvili lacks many big shots from the back but is extremely solid and moves well with a decent forehand, especially cross-court.

    There was a further blow for Russian fans at the start of the day when Dmitry Tursunov pulled out of his first-round match complaining of a slight shoulder strain; nothing serious but just a niggle picked up in Metz last week.

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