ASIAN-IND-LD TENNIS 2LST

In the Somdev-Zhang clash, the Indian made a lot of
unforced errors which were repaid by his rival. Somdev
committed three forehand errors and was broken by his rival
but came storming back by breaking back in the seventh.
Somdev broke again to lead 5-4 when Zhang hit his
forehand into the net. The Indian made a rare approach to the
net to put away a volley in the next game to lead 40-15 when
serving for the set and then held serve and clinched it when
his rival's return of serve was long.
Somdev was quickly up 3-0 when his rival took a medical
break to attend to his calf muscle. Then followed the incident
involving the ball boy to upset the second seed's composure
that helped his rival retrieve a service break in the fourth
game.
But Somdev broke Zhang again in the seventh game to take
a 5-2 lead and held two match points when he was broken again
(5-3).
However, he held his composure after his rival played a
good service game to hold serve at 15 with a back-hand pass.
"The guy started off well and I was 1-4 down. I blame
myself for that. At 5-2 up in the final set I played a crappy
game. He played a great service game and I am glad I came out
and played a good service game (in return) and held serve," he
said.
He said it did not matter who he played next as both his
likely opponents, Danai Udamchoke of Thailand, seeded ninth,
and fourth seed Tatsuma Ito of Japan were strong players and
it would be a big challenge to reach the final by beating any
one of them.
Rastogi was overwhelmed in the opening set against
Istomin who broke his serve twice in the sixth and eighth
games and grabbed the set 6-2 in only 24 minutes.
But an unnerved and determined Rastogi, ranked far below
his opponent, bravely fought his way back to win the second
after a 43-minute battle 6-4 by breaking his rival's serve in
the ninth game and then holding his own delivery.
The duo traded two service breaks in the final set which
lasted just under an hour before Istomin broke Rastogi
decisively in the 12th to run out victor.
"It was a good effort on my part to take the top seed to
three sets but at the end of the day I lost. I was always
playing catch-up in the match which is not an easy thing to do
against the top seed and world no. 44.
"I now have a break of one month before the Chennai Open
(in January, 2011). I will use it to do some good work on my
tennis," he added. PTI