Johansson Too Strong for Montanes
Monday, June 20, 2005

In a powerful display of grasscourt tennis, No.11 Men's seed Joachim Johansson bundled out Albert Montanes of Spain in straight sets 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 7-5.

The match started with both players matching each other blow for blow. Impeccable serves were followed up by simple baseline winners and the first set was soon plunged into a tie-breaker. The Swede however made most of his huge frame and sheer power to take the first set 7-5.

From then on he was in control of the match, denying the Spaniard any chance to turn the tide. He held on his serves and seemed to relish the grass surface. Johansson kept serving hard and made Montanes look weak and lacking in physical strength.

The Spaniard struggled and failed at creating any chance to get into the match. The Swede meanwhile was mixing his hard serves with booming forehands and raining down missiles across the net.

In the end Montanes looked like a losing man hanging on the fading hope of breaking Johansson's serve. That, however, was not to happen. Instead he lost out on his serve at 2-2 in the second set and then at 5-5 in the third. A tie-break looked possible in the third set but the Swede moved in for the kill, serving to take the set and the match.

He will now meet British player Greg Rusedski in his next encounter at The Championships.