Help
10/3/10 5:28 PM | Ricky Dimon
Mikhail Youzhny beats Andrey Golubev in a third-set tiebreaker to win the Kuala Lumpur title on Sunday. This is the seventh ATP title of Youzhny's career.
Mikhail Youzhny captured his second ATP title of the year on Sunday, and he did it the hard way.
Youzhny won all four of his matches at the Malaysian Open in three sets, including a 6-7(7), 6-2, 7-6(3) defeat of Andrey Golubev in the final. The Russian prevailed after two hours and 32 minutes for his third come-from-behind victory of the week.
A pair of breaks were exchanged in a tense first set, which Youzhny seemed to have in his pocket when he took a 6-3 lead in the tiebreaker. Golubev, however, fought off all three set points and eventually seized it nine points to seven.
Despite the disappointment, Youzhny bounced right back in the second. Kuala Lumpur's No. 4 seed raced to a 5-1 lead and although he failed to serve it out at that point, he broke Golubev at 5-2 to force a decisive third.
Neither man could break during the final frame of play, and not even a single break point was had by either player. In the 'breaker, Youzhny's big-match experience proved to be the difference. The world No. 9 pulled away from a 3-3 tie for yet another 6-3 advantage. This time he was not about to squander it, as he clinched the win on his first match point when Golubev sent a forehand pass wide.
"I came back well and I played a really good second set," said Youzhny, who is now 7-9 lifetime in ATP title matches. "In the final set it was really close. Unfortunately, when you win 7-6 in the third set in the last match, you have to be a little bit luckier than him."
Golubev, competing in his third career ATP final, wrapped up his effort with four aces and two double-faults. "We both played very well, except my second set, but I was a little bit tired," said the 41st-ranked Kazakh. "I needed the set to relax, to get some energy for the third set. I had chances to maybe break him, but he played well."
While Youzhny owns seven career titles, this is the first time he has won two in the same year. He also triumphed in Munich on clay, while Golubev won a 500-point title on clay in Hamburg earlier this season.
Find the latest tennis odds at Unibet.com
Tell a friend »
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2012, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
it's amazing it is actually the first time youzhny wins two titles in a year. he has been to so many finals lately. good on him!
croc , 10/3/10 6:55 PM