05.06.2012 21:13:35 | Prostejov Challenger has been unlucky with the top-seeded stars in the last years. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS), 13th position in ATP ranking, and Tommy Robredo of Spain (31st position in ATP) were the first- and second-seeds last year. Youzhny scratched in the semi-finals to the later winner Schukin. Having won the first set and losing the second one 1:4, he went the to umpire and announced that he quits. Before then, he saved two match points against Semjan of Slovakia who defeated the top-seed Verdasco this year. Tommy Robredo had already been drawn last year. However, he did not even show up, claiming that his old injury flared up.
Even the worst pessimist would not expect the top-seeded Verdasco to lose in the first round! Marek Semjan of Slovakia, currently at 1166th position in ATP ranking, played without scruples from the beginning and caught the favored Spaniard unawares. Why is the Slovak at such a low-ranking position? ”I’ve suffered many injuries: broken wrist, pulled groin, and I did not play for a long time. But remember, I had many chances against the top-seeded Youzhny last year. I greatly regretted the missed match points. And this year? I knew I had a chance from the very beginning. Verdasco did not make an impression on me of being a confident tennis player. I already had a great chance in the second-set tiebreaker. I was winning 4:1 and serving, but I failed to bring it to a successful end. I was confident in the third set. He had to win, he was the top seed. I could only surprise,” said happy twenty-four year old Marek Semjan of Slovakia. And the defeated Verdasco? “The weather was against me. The balls in Paris were much faster and I was very cold. It was almost 30°C at Roland Garros and only 10°C here. Let alone that Semjan played well in the third set. He might have had a little luck, but he won. I know it’s not great for the tournament management if the top-seed at the very beginning. However, I have to say one thing: this is what tennis is about. I wanted to go as far as possible in Prostejov. I’m not playing anywhere next week and I wanted to stay here until Saturday.” By his defeat, Verdasco opened the upper part of the draw. Could Florian Mayer reach to the finals?
