Australia’s James McCabe has taken advantage of his wildcard at the Workday Canberra International. The world no. 188 defeating Mark Lajal of Estonia, the world no. 149.
McCabe took the match 7-6(3), 7-6(8).
The Estonian was serving for the first set at 5-3 but found himself at 0-40. A forehand hit wide conceded the game and McCabe would serve to level the set a 5-5. The set was then won in a tiebreak by McCabe.
Games went with serve in the second set, and at 3-4 with Lajal there was a short rain delay despite the sun shining. Rain had blown across from nearby clouds.
After play resumed it was more of the same, neither player was broken, so the set again went to a breaker. McCabe did have a match point in the 12th game after a Lajal shot clipped the net and went wide.
McCabe had advantage but a forehand winner from the Estonian saved the match point.
A double-fault gave McCabe a second look at match point, however the Australian hit a shot into the net to let that slip.
A missed overhead, and then an Ace took the second set to the tie-breaker.
McCabe got the first mini-break after Lajal hit just long at 1-1. McCabe followed suit and also hit long, it was 2-2.
The Australian backed that up with a good wide serve and then a down the line winner for 3-2.
The Estonian served and volleyed, and look to have made the right play, he did however bounce a volley too much into the court and it sat up for McCabe to run and hit a passing shot for 4-2.
A mishit forehand from Lajal and it looked likely that McCabe would take the match as he jumped out to 5-2 with two serves on his racquet.
Lajal hit a return into the net and McCabe had four match points at 6-2. A forehand hit long by McCabe kept his opponent in the match.
McCabe would hit a shot into the net to see Lajal serving at 4-6. A deep shot setup a volley winner. It was now 6-5 with McCabe again serving to close out the match. Another unforced error from the Australian and it was suddenly 6-6.
McCabe served and volleyed to force an error, so it was another match point at 7-6. A great volley from the Estonian forced an error from McCabe and it was now 7-7.
An inside-out forehand from Lajal sent McCabe chasing the ball, he wasn’t about to get it back over the net and suddenly Lajal found himself with a set point, but it was on McCabe’s serve.
After some big hitting by both players it was Lajal that cracked, sending a shot just long.
An Ace down the T from McCabe gave him yet another match point. This time at 9-8 it was Lajal that sent a forehand well wide to give McCabe the victory.
McCabe faces British qualifier Jack Pinnington Jones in the second round.
Pinnington Jones had ended the chance of Australia’s Marc Polmans to earn a main draw spot when the Brit saved some match points before taking victory 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(8) in their round two qualifying match.
After earning a main draw spot, Pinnington Jones defeated Brandon Holt to advance to face McCabe.
