32nd seed Philip Kohlschreiber grinded out a 6-4 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4 against Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvilli to advance to the second round of the Australian Open.
This match saw the start of Kohlschreiber’s 12th Australian open and he got off to a quick start against his erratic opponent, breaking him in the third game to lead 2-1. The one break was all that was needed for the German as he took the first set fairly comfortably 6-4. How would his Georgian opponent respond?
Well, he would respond in emphatic fashion as he broke in the fourth game to lead 3-1. The Georgian served much better in the second set, taking the match to his higher ranked opponent. As a result the world number 92 held his nerve and took the second set 6-3.
The third set was full of nerves and drama as both men threw out tactical play and threw caution to the wind. It was a set of two halves, Basilashvilli, who is playing only his second Australian open, dominated the first half of the set breaking twice in the first three games to go 3-0 up in the set. However his inconsistency , that is the only word to sum up the Georgian, proved telling as momentum swung the way of the German as he broke in the sixth game to narrow the gap to 4-2. Basilashvilli had the chance to serve for a two sets to one lead against Kohlschreiber but was broken to 15 as Kohlschreiber levelled the contest a 5-5. As a result the third set went to a tiebreak, which the world number 33 dominated and took the tiebreak 7-2 to have the scoreline edge in the match.
Kohlschreiber completed victory in the fourth set as an early break in the third game helped him secure set four 6-4 and win the match. The German had to work hard for his victory and will have to serve better if he wants to make the second week here in Melbourne. Kohlschreiber will now play Donald Young in round two.
In other results next generation star Frances Tiafoe is through to round two, the young American beat veteran Mikhail Kukushkin 6-1 6-7(3) 6-3 6-2. The world number 108 won 81% of first service points and converted 6 of 14 break point opportunities to seal an impressive victory. Tiafoe is undoubtedly an impressive and agressive young player who is shining on the big stage. Tiafoe will now play fellow young gun Alexander Zverev in the second round, with a possible third round match with Rafael Nadal awaiting the winner.
Jared Donaldson wasn’t as lucky as his compatriot though as he fell to a five set defeat to Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva. The world number 101, who was one place behind his opponent in the rankings fell to 3-6 0-6 6-1 6-4 6-4 defeat as he ran out of gas. Dutra Silva will now play 25th seed Gilles Simon in the next round.
