David Munyua sent ‘dream’ prediction as next match confirmed | Other | Sport
Despite losing the first set, Dutch arrowsmith Doets bounced straight back, soon taking the second set with a stunning 106.93 average, throwing one 180 and three 140-plus scores.
That gave Doets a platform to push on and he did just that, winning the third and fourth set – both 3-2 in legs – to ease to a 3-1 win and book a clash against Munyua on Monday.
When asked about facing Munyua next, Doets said during his post-match press conference: «I watched the game live yesterday between him and Mike and, of course, I was expecting, if I won my game, to meet Mike in the second round.
«And when David won it gave me a bit of extra pressure on my shoulders because, of course he is a good player, but Mike is a better player, this is a dream draw.
«This is the draw you want in the second round. David is a great player, but I am the better player. This is a game that you want to get further in the tournament.»
De Decker romped into a 2-0 lead against Munyua and looked to be cruising into the second round. But the Belgian allowed the Kenyan to come back into the contest, averaging less than 78 in the third set and missing THREE match darts in the fourth set.
Munyua punished De Decker to make it 2-2 and it felt as though the momentum was with the debutant heading into the fifth and deciding set. Despite averaging seven points more than his opponent in that, De Decker somehow managed to lose, with Munyua hitting a clutch 135 checkout and firing in 42.86 per cent of his doubles.
«Mike missed a lot of opportunities to win the game,» Doets added, when asked how he’s going to ensure that he doesn’t get complacent against Munyua. «But I won’t miss those opportunities that he did. Whenever I get the chance to go 2-0 up or 3-0 I won’t miss them because my confidence is really high and I just don’t believe I will miss them.»
«I never expected Mike to lose, but as soon as he did I actually got a bit more nervous because my chances to get through to the third round are bigger,» Doets continued. «But I handled them pretty well today. I played a decent game today, not my best but not my worst either. I played alright and I think I am just going to get better from now on.»
Doets averaged a solid 92.11 and hit two 100-plus checkouts to beat Dennant and progress into the second round for a third successive year. ‘Hawkeye’ managed to beat Noa-Lynn van Leuven and Michael Smith en route to the last-16 12 months ago – though his progression was stopped by eventual semi-finalist Chris Dobey.
«I think I was a bit sloppy in the first set, missed some doubles, and went 1-0 down,» Doets admitted, when quizzed on his overall performance. «But the past two years I have been down in games and it doesn’t worry me, I don’t get stressed out. I think; ‘I am the better player and I am going to win it’.»
