East CW Land Represent!
Delev lands first blow
CW Land Democratic Republic's Spas Delev has landed the first Grand Slam blow against their bitter Western rivals by upsetting 29th seed Jojo Mustard in the 3rd round of the Australian open overnight. Confidence was high on the western side of the Great CW Wall after Mustard took the first set 6-4, as things looked to be going as planned. Delev, however, had other plans, as the temperamental bulgarian-born Easterner upped the ante to claim the second set in impressive fashion 6-3. From there on in, it was the diminutive world no.73 who controlled the outcome of the match eventually winning in 4, 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-3.
Delev was not without his troubles though, almost blowing it in what was the most important game of the match. A 1 set a piece, and serving for the 3rd at 5-4, Delev handed Jojo 3 break back points, only for the 29th seed to live up to his "Mustard" name and waste his chance to regain the ascendency as Spas saved all 3 break points and served it out to take the set 6-4. The spectators could have been forgiven at times for thinking that this was actually a re-enactment of the now defunct womens tour, as both players struggled to hold serve at crucial moments throughout the course of the match.
Speaking with Delev after the match, the Davistow resident felt he had all but broken the resolve of Mustard after that vital last game of the 3rd set.
"I felt pretty nervous out there serving to close out the 3rd, and the double first up certainly didn't help! I knew though, even whilst facing 3 break points, that Jojo didn't have the
topki to hold his nerve and break back at such a vital moment in the match"
"Once I had it back to 30-40 I could see he was broken, and that the set, and match, was mine for the taking. Not to say the final set didn't have it's moments though, but I knew I had it in me, this one's for Nykänen"
"Altman will be a tough opponent in the 4th, he's the 9th seed, and has a vastly different style of play to mine, but I'm up for the challenge, bring it on!