Azlan Iskander tonight showed that subtle changes can produce massive rewards as he hit back from one game down to overwhelm Simon Rosner in the second round.
After a tight opening game, Azlan roared through the second 11-1. He took complete control the match, driving solidly and attacking with precision at the front of the court.
Rosner suddenly found himself chasing and the effort took its toll. He looked tired and unable to withstand the ferocious barrage of winners exploding from Iskander's racket.
Rosner rallied in two spells during the third game, closing the gap from 2-6 to 4-6, and then from 4-8 to 6-8, but Iskander maintained his composure to gain the first slot in the quarter-finals. he even had time to apologise when a lucky nick at the back of the court gave him match ball.
He said: "I didn't make any massive changes after the first game, just a few subtle alterations. I knew that I couldn't play anything loose because Simon is such a good player these days that he was able to punish all my mistakes. He has improved so much in the last few months and there are a lot of guys like him who are putting pressure on the top guys. The cool court may have looked like it suited my game but I grew up in Malaysia with 100 per cent humidity so it's not something I'm used to."
Rosner admitted: "I was on the phone to my coach between games. Azlan changed his game after the first and started getting in front. I just couldn't get the ball to the back of the court after that. I was hopeless."
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