The first set of Corban Crowther’s second round singles match against Alexey Zakharov in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon was one of those half and half jobs – an even first half, where three comfortable holds of serve preceded Crowther having to get through three deuces before winning the fourth game – and a very one-sided second half, where Zakharov won the next three games to love before Crowther managed to save one set point before double faulting on the second. The set had taken 34 minutes.
The second set started the same way as the first, but this time Crowther was unable to hold serve in the fourth game. He was broken again, this time to love, to lose the match, with Zakharov coasting home after an hour and 15 minutes to win 6-2, 6-2.