Match report

Marin Cilic © Tennistalk.com
Open 13
1st round
2/13/08 1 2 Tot
hr  Marin Cilic 4 6 3 0
ru  Mikhail Youzhny 6 7 7 2
Mikhail Youzhny © Tennistalk.com

  • Youzhny Survives Tough Test From Cilic

    2/13/08 11:49 PM | Ricky Dimon
    It only takes two sets, but promising youngster Marin Cilic makes Mikhail Youzhny work hard to earn his place in the second round of the Open 13 in Marseille, France.

    Third-seeded Mikhail Youzhny got past the talented Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6(3) on Wednesday afternoon at the Open 13, but it took one hour and 52 minutes to finish off the 19-year-old Croat.

    Earlier this year in the season-opening event in Chennai, the Russian breezed by Cilic 6-2, 6-3 in just 83 minutes. While Youzhny prevailed in straight sets yet again, it was much tougher this time around and that was apparent right from the start. The first set was tight throughout and really came down to just one or two points. Both players had two break point opportunities in the opening frame of play; Youzhny saved both of the ones he faced and converted one against Cilic's serve. That was all the Russian needed to finish off the set 6-4.

    In the second set, neither player could gain much of an advantage against the other's serve. Cilic won just eight return points the entire set; in Youzhny's six service games and the tiebreaker. Youzhny had one break point chance, but the Croat saved it and was able to extend the set to a tiebreaker, which the Russian took 7-3 without much difficulty.

    As expected, Youzhny controlled the match from the baseline and Cilic's serve alone kept the 6'5'' challenger from getting wiped off the court in the same way he did five weeks ago. Cilic blasted 10 aces and won 80 percent of his first-serve points. When Youzhny got a look at a second serve, allowing him to dictate play with his return that is one of the best in tennis, Cilic won just 12 of 30 points.

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