Miomir Kecmanovic saved six match points to win a roller-coaster ride against Dan Evans in the Rakuten Japan Open second round on Thursday afternoon.
Kecmanovic led 4-1 in the third set only to see Evans storm back for a 5-4 advantage, at which stage the Brit served for victory. On Evans’ match point at ad-in, Kecmanovic tracked down a lob with a tweener and eventually forced Evans into a volley error with a backhand passing shot. The Serb ended up prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4) after two hours and 44 minutes.
“That was the first time that I was able to do that,” Kecmanovic said of his survival from so many match points down. “I was completely tuned out of the match and I just went for it in that moment. It was amazing. It’s the first time I ever made that shot in a match. I’m beyond happy that I was able to do it.
“I had a lot of ups and downs–especially in the third set, being up 4-1. Somehow I managed to stay in (it) and thankfully I’m still here.”
nice one, Kec