Matsuoka H. came from a set down to beat Sultanov K. 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Astana, Kazakhstan Men Singles. The turning point was the decider, where he saved three of four break points and broke Sultanov twice.
Sultanov took the first set 6-3, breaking in game 2 and again in game 8, while Matsuoka replied with a single break in game 5. Matsuoka levelled in the second set after breaking in game 2 and holding throughout. In the third, Sultanov led 2-0, but Matsuoka broke back at 3-4 and then broke again at 5-4 to close out.
The stats underline the narrow margin: Matsuoka won 75 points to Sultanov's 74 and both converted three break points. Sultanov won more service points overall, 50-44, but Matsuoka collected 31 receiver points to 24 and was 9/10 on first-serve points in the final set.