Mubadala WTC: Kevin Anderson tops Hyeon Chung to set Rafael Nadal clash
The world no. 6 and Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson has made the winning start of the new season, defeating Hyeon Chung 6-7 6-2 6-1 after more than two hours and 20 minutes in the quarter-final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi to set the semi-final encounter against Rafael Nadal on Friday. Kevin won both official matches against Hyeon and he had a chance to score a commanding win today, wasting a 5-2 advantage in the opening set to lose it in the tie break before leaving the Korean behind him in sets two and three, proving to be too strong for the youngster who had finished the season inside the top-30 despite injuries and setbacks.
Chung was off to a good start, creating three break points in the opening game of the match but squandering them all and missing a chance for an early lead. Carried by this momentum, Anderson broke at love in game six with a backhand winner to move 4-2 up and he served for the set in game nine. Hyeon had one last chance to pull the break back and he played a solid game, earning four chances and converting the last one to break back and reduce the deficit to 5-4, saving two set points at 5-6 to set the tie break that he won 7-4 after two mini-breaks and a service winner in the last point.
Kevin stayed focused despite this setback and he broke at the start of the second set following a lucky net cord, hitting a great forehand in game three to increase his lead. Serving for the set at 5-2, Anderson placed a volley winner to secure the set and he was now the favorite in the decider, breaking Hyeon three times to march towards the finish line and the clash with the four-time champion Rafael Nadal tomorrow.
Quarter-final result:
Kevin Anderson (RSA) vs Hyeon Chung (KOR) 6-7(4) 6-2 6-1
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2QWHo7l
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