Match of the round has to go to Nick Kyrgios’s victory over Richard Gasquet. The youngest player in the draw saved nine match points against the 13th seed. His guts in going for his shots when on the brink of defeat paid off with some luck with the net cords and line calls, but the cliche goes fortune favors the brave and the youngster proved it.
The third round is as far as Krygios has gone at a slam, and at aged 19, it is an encouraging sign for his and the game’s future. With a big serve, great athleticism and fight, he joins Raonic, Nishikori, Thiem and Dimitrov as the future of the game.
Most fun match of the round goes to Novak Djokovic versus Radek Stepanek. The third and fourth sets had some of the most entertaining points of the event so far, and while the result was never in doubt, watching the inevitable has rarely been such entertainment.
Upset of the round goes to Andrey Kuznetsov for his win over seventh seed Ferrer. The Russian qualifier ranked 118 hit 77 winners in his five set win.
What a surprise prize to Gulbis for going out in straights. It did not help he was facing Federer’s 2013 conqueror Sergei Stakhovsky but the recent Roland Garros semi-finalist did not help himself either as his serve, return and mind deserted him.
Close shave of the round goes to Rafael Nadal who was a point away from going two sets to love down against his 2012 conqueror Lukas Rosol. Had Rosol not double-faulted, Nadal might very nearly have been on his way out early for the third year in a row.
Tie break of the round was won, not surprisingly, by John Isner 19-17 against Nieminen in the first set of the American’s straight set victory. The tiebreak was two thirds the length the set itself.
Workhorse of the round goes to Tsonga, and his opponent Querrey, who both played for the fourth consecutive day as they finished of their second round match. Tsonga won it 14-12.
Under-the-radar awards go to young guns Dimitrov, Raonic and Nishikori who all swept into the third in three sets each.
thetennisreview 
Leave a comment