Odesnik in Palm Springs

A nervous start to the match for Odesnik and Phau who each were going for their first ATP final.

The birds could be heard loud and clear over the tame River Oaks Country Club fans.  The match was sold out, but as with many first matches of the day, most seats were empty at the start of the match with many open seats even near the end.

Odesnik had a couple of match points in the semifinal last year vs. Marcel Granollers, but Granollers prevailed to win the championships.

Early on, both players hit heavy forehands to their opponents backhand.  Odesnik took the first break to lead 3-1 and after facing a couple of break points Odesnik was able to consolidate the break to lead 4-1.  Phau broke back to serve at 3-4, but with new ‘bouncier’ balls, Odesnik started to get the ball up high on Phau’s backhand again.  Phau won only 2 of the next 9 games.  Odesnik took the first set 6-4 and reached a match point serving at 5-1 which Phau won nailing a winner down the line.

Serving at 5-3, Odesnik hit an ill advised down the line backhand opening the court for Phau to strike his solid cross court backhand.  At love-15, Phau missed wide a down the line forehand and Odesnik aced Phau down the middle followed by a Phau backhand that clipped the tape to give Odesnik two more match points.  Odesnik only needed one to advance to the final as a Phau groundstroke landed just beyond the baseline.  Odesnik gave a double fist pump toward his new coach, Grant Doyle.  Odesnik will face the winner of the Hewitt Korolev semifinal.

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