Viktor Troicki survived a tough examination of his title credentials in Sofia, as he was pushed the distance by seventh seed Martin Klizan of Slovakia. Troicki survived the loss of the first set to win the match 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Both Troicki and Klizan had come into the match with form, with Klizan having defeated Andreas Seppi and Troicki beating Philipp Kohlscreiber.
Klizan somehow took the first set, despite serving eight double faults. The Slovakian managed to break early, and when Troicki broke back later in the set, Klizan immediately regained the lead. He saved six of seven break points, whilst converting both of the two that fell his way.
Troicki was entitled to feel hard done by then by the manner in which he had lost the first set, and began making amends early in the second. Both men struggled in the second as a total of five breaks of serve saw the momentum in the set shift on multiple occasions. Troicki was managing more respectable numbers, winning more than 60% of first serve points and just under half of his second serve points. Klizan meanwhile, was unable to win even 50% of points on either wing, yet still the Slovakian stayed with Troicki, matching break for break and hold for hold until three-all. The Serbian finally managed a hold, final break and anther hold to take the match to a third and final set.
Ironically, the final set yielded just one break of serve as both men battened down the hatches. Love holds commenced the start of the third, before three consecutive deuce holds. A series of more love holds followed before both men tightened up as the set neared its conclusion. Both men had chances, with Klizan wasting three break poinrs at four-three, and Troicki having had four earlier.
It was the second seed who finally made the breakthrough. Klizan’s second serve had been susceptible throughout, and when he missed two to start game eleven, Troicki pounced for love-thirty. Two first serves saw Klizan equal Troicki again, but two more second serve points saw Troicki secure the crucial break. The second seed then served out to fifteen to set up a meeting with top seed Roberto Bautista-Agut.
Bautista-Agut and Troicki have never met before on tour.
