Another crazy match in Indian Wells. Tommy had *0-40 in the first game of the match, which took 6 1/2 minutes until Jarkko held. Nieminen then had 15-40 himself before holding. Haas needed three more break points but finally broke for a *2-1 lead in the first set. Both held once until Jarkko broke back for 3 all, where Shark fell immediately behind 0-30 and was broken. Haas served for the first set at *5-4 and got broken to 30, the first of four straight breaks of serve, where Tommy served for the first set twice.
In the tiebreaker, Jarkko had a mini-break twice early in the tiebreak, which he lost. At 5 all, Haas DF'd to set up a set point for Nieminen on his serve at *6-5, which he proceeded to double fault to lose. Tommy had *9-8 and didn't take it but won back to back points from there onward to win the set.
Second set, Nieminen opened the set with an immediate break of serve. At *2-1 Shark saved two break points but got broken by Tommy at *3-2 to get the set back on serve. From there, Tommy held his service games very comfortably, and won three straight points from 30-*40 at 5-*4 to break and win the match.
Overall, a topsy-turvy match indeed. Jarkko was always in trouble on his service games and it caught up to him in the end. A big mental victory for Tommy.
In the tiebreaker, Jarkko had a mini-break twice early in the tiebreak, which he lost. At 5 all, Haas DF'd to set up a set point for Nieminen on his serve at *6-5, which he proceeded to double fault to lose. Tommy had *9-8 and didn't take it but won back to back points from there onward to win the set.
Second set, Nieminen opened the set with an immediate break of serve. At *2-1 Shark saved two break points but got broken by Tommy at *3-2 to get the set back on serve. From there, Tommy held his service games very comfortably, and won three straight points from 30-*40 at 5-*4 to break and win the match.
Overall, a topsy-turvy match indeed. Jarkko was always in trouble on his service games and it caught up to him in the end. A big mental victory for Tommy.