Prakash Amritraj - son of a famed Indian player Vijay - might have glistened in the setting sun with the diamond studs in his ears and his gold necklace. But he finished a despondent loser to thirteenth seed Sergiy Stakhovsky of the Ukraine in the second round of Wimbledon qualifying.
They began the match in warm conditions on Court Five but by the time Stakhovsky ran out a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 winner in 90 minutes, spectators were shivering in a cool breeze.
Stakhovsky made such an impressive start that it was a surprise he was eventually taken to three sets. In the first set the Ukranian won the first point in all but one of the games. He served well, hit his round strokes aggressively,and Amritraj was always chasing the game. He dropped the sixth game to love and within 28 minutes Stakhovsky had won the first set,finishing with an ace.
But a different, more resolute Amritraj, took greater control of his own game in the second set, sweeping to a 5-0 lead. Stakhovsky looked bewildered by the growing confidence of Amritraj who mirrored his opponent by ending the set with an ace to square the match after almost an hour.
In the final set the command of the match turned back to Stakhovsky who gained a 2-0 lead to lift his confidence. Although Stakhovsky lost serve in the fifth game he broke Amritraj immediately and held on to his advantage to take the match.
Amritraj would have loved to follow his father into the Wimbledon main draw: Vijay, who was watching intensely at the side of the court, played Wimbledon for 17 years and was twice a quarter finalist in 1974 and 1987. But Prakash will have to wait.
Stakhovsky, ranked 133rd in the world, was not that far way from gaining a place in the main draw by right. "I nearly the made main draw before but I still have to make it," he said.
(source)
They began the match in warm conditions on Court Five but by the time Stakhovsky ran out a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 winner in 90 minutes, spectators were shivering in a cool breeze.
Stakhovsky made such an impressive start that it was a surprise he was eventually taken to three sets. In the first set the Ukranian won the first point in all but one of the games. He served well, hit his round strokes aggressively,and Amritraj was always chasing the game. He dropped the sixth game to love and within 28 minutes Stakhovsky had won the first set,finishing with an ace.
But a different, more resolute Amritraj, took greater control of his own game in the second set, sweeping to a 5-0 lead. Stakhovsky looked bewildered by the growing confidence of Amritraj who mirrored his opponent by ending the set with an ace to square the match after almost an hour.
In the final set the command of the match turned back to Stakhovsky who gained a 2-0 lead to lift his confidence. Although Stakhovsky lost serve in the fifth game he broke Amritraj immediately and held on to his advantage to take the match.
Amritraj would have loved to follow his father into the Wimbledon main draw: Vijay, who was watching intensely at the side of the court, played Wimbledon for 17 years and was twice a quarter finalist in 1974 and 1987. But Prakash will have to wait.
Stakhovsky, ranked 133rd in the world, was not that far way from gaining a place in the main draw by right. "I nearly the made main draw before but I still have to make it," he said.
(source)
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