Rosol Fights Back To Defeat Janowicz in Winston-Salem Open Final

August 25, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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Lukas Rosol battled back from a set down to defeat Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 to capture the Winston-Salem Open final. The Czech native fought off two match points in the final set to hang on and win his second ATP World Tour title.

“I just focused on my games, especially while I was serving,” said Rosol. “I waited patiently to see if he would give me a chance on his serve, and he did. I didn’t start out well, but I finished strong.”

With Janowicz up 5-4 in the set and 40-15 in the game, the Pole had two chances to close out the match.  Rosol used his serve to fight back and hold, evening the match at 5-5 in the deciding frame. The Czech then notched a huge break point to jump ahead 6-5, and then blasted an ace in the 12th game to close out the match.

“It happens,” said Janowicz. “I didn’t do anything stupid; he just played a lot better. I was a little bit unlucky here.”

Rosol entered the championship match with only three played contests under his belt in this tournament, as he advanced due to injury withdrawals twice thanks to Ryan Harrison and John Isner. In contrast, Janowicz had played six matches in six days including four which went the full distance of three sets.

“Things changed,” said Rosol. “If you have a chance and don’t do it, you’re mentally down. You start thinking it’s already over, and he wasn’t totally together with his legs and head.”

Both players will be in action this week in Flushing Meadows for the US Open. Rosol will look to build on the momentum of his second-career title when he takes on Croatia’s Borna Coric in the first-round. Janowicz will meet Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic in the opening round.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Bethpage
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