PETE ZIEBRON - Tennis in 269
In nearly every sport, the player or team that scores or accumulates the most points wins the game or match. Not necessarily in tennis as fuzzy math can sometimes make an appearance, as was the case on back to back days at a recent ATP 250 tournament in France.
Last week in Marseille, Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine faced Frenchman Constant Lestienne in the 2nd round of qualifying. Despite the fact that Stakhovsky won 12 more points in the match (94-82), it was Lestienne who won 7-5 1-6 7-5 to advance to the Main Draw.
Ironically, Stakhovsky's fortune turned when he gained entry into the Main Draw as a Lucky Loser, replacing an injured Gael Monfils. In a twist of fate, the Ukrainian was placed in the draw to play Lestienne yet again, for the second consecutive day!
This time, Lestienne won more points in the match (89-88) yet did not achieve victory. Instead, Stakhovsky edged out a 7-6(3) 1-6 6-3 win to advance to the second round.
Players who meet in the final round of qualifying have indeed previously met again immediately in the first round of the Main Draw. However, this may be the very first time that the winner of these matches actually tallied a lower number of total points on consecutive days.
Stakhovsky was able to win his next match in Marseille, against yet another Lucky Loser, Gregorie Barrere, before falling in the quarterfinals to eventual Champion Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Marseille was the first quarterfinal berth at an ATP event in nearly four years for Stakhovsky. The most recent being February 2015 in Dubai.
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