After a slow start, Vasek Pospisil was lights out on serve in the opening set of his first round battle with Jeremy Chardy at the Rogers Cup, winning the opener in a tiebreak before the Frenchman was forced to retire with a foot injury. After the pair exchanged breaks in the early stages of the first set, they settled in for a tight battle before Pospisil ran away with the breaker. After only two points in the second set, Chardy retired, which made Pospisil the fifth Canadian in the second round in his home nation’s tournament.
Pospisil bounces back to claim opener
The Canadian got off to a nightmare start, double faulting on the opening point of the match. At 30-30, he let a lob go that landed in which proved costly as he would lose the rally to go down break point. Chardy would convert the break point for an immediate lead. But the lead would not last as the Frenchman double faulted to give Pospisil double break point in the following game. The Canadian would convert his second break point to level the set at 1-1.
As the set progressed, Pospisil seemed to be growing in confidence on serve. Chardy would go entire games barely being able to get a return in play. At 5-4 on the Frenchman’s serve, the Canadian held a set point at 30-40, but drove his return, an area where he really struggled in the opener, long. The set required a tiebreak, where once again Pospisil dominated with his serve. A friendly net cord gave the Canadian the first minibreak. Big serves allowed Pospisil to stretch the lead to 5-1. He had a chance to serve for the set at 5-2, but only managed one point as Chardy drew an error at 6-2. It was only a minor setback, as the Canadian ripped a clean return winner on the next point to wrap up the opening set.
Chardy’s surprise retirement
After Pospisil won the first two points of the second set on Chardy’s serve, the Frenchman called for the physio. He had spoken to the trainer during the changeover at 5-4, but did not have any treatment. After several minutes with the physio, Chardy was forced to retire with an apparent foot injury.
By the numbers
With the exception of the opening game, Pospisil was lights out on serve in the one set that was played. The Canadian only lost seven points total on serve, four of which came in that opening break meaning after being broken, he only lost three points on serve. He only lost three on his first serve in the whole match, good enough for 85 percent. Chardy too only lost three points on his first serve, but was far weaker on his second, only winning 12 of 21 when he missed his first serve.
Pospisil goes on to face tenth seed Gael Monfils in the second round.