WTA report card from Eastbourne - UBITENNIS

WTA report card from Eastbourne

By Staff
6 Min Read

TENNIS – In this Monday of action at the Aegon Internationals of Eastbourne, a mix of surprises and confirmations characterised the WTA matches. From Eastbourne, Giulio Gasparin

Surely the biggest shock came from the hands of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who took down in three sets the first seed Agnieszka Radwanska in an entertaining but not high quality match.

The Russian started the match very well by seizing the first set 6-3, but in the second she started to be more erratic, while the Pole’s serve became more powerful and accurate.

Radwanska, who had lost her opening match at Eastbourne in the past two editions, knew her match this year was no less tough as she always had to battle against Pavlyuchenkova in the past matches and this time it was no different.

After the second set the Russian asked for the physiotherapist because of a small problem to her hand and it seemed that this would affect her as she started the final set with a horrid game in which she got broken.

However, she managed to regroup and with some great drop shot solutions, she immediately got the break back.

Both players then hold their serves until the decisive tiebreak, but what was most evident was the fact that, good or bad, the match looked to be always in the hands of Pavlyuchenkova.

In the tiebreak the feeling was confirmed as the Russian was the first one to go up of a mini-break, though she handed it back with a bad miss.

Despite the missed chances, Pavlyuchenkova kept her focus and managed to close at the second match point.

Angelique Kerber, the fifth seed, had a tough opener as well as she faced grass court specialist Alison Riske, but she got the job done in two tough and quality sets.

The German needed to fight back from a break down in the opener, when Riske had a point to go 4-1 up.

Both player showed their skills on the surface, especially the American, who often charged the net and found great points, despite the terrific passing shot of the world number nine.

In the first set tiebreak both players felt a bit nervous, but in the end the experience of the German prevailed, despite a very brave Riske saved three set points with as many stunning winners.

In the second set, everything seemed to go fine for Kerber, as she got a double break lead. The American reacted and tried a comeback, but it was too late and, in the end, the fifth seed closed 7-6 (6) 6-4.

The German’s next opponent will be Alize Cornet, who showed a great tennis to tame Bojana Jovanovski in two sets.

Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the second round too after coming back from a break down in both sets against Sam Stosur.

The Dane, whose conditions were all to be seen after the knee injury occurred in Madrid and the sorrows caused by the broken engagement, showed a very good version of her self in order to beat an overall positive Stosur.

The Australian broke Wozniacki in the very first game and managed to hold comfortably for most of the first set, but, when serving for the set, the Dane started to move the game around better and in the end Stosur hit a double fault on the break point.

The former world number one impressed once more with a very good service game and that seemed to get in her opponent’s head, as the game that followed was horrible for Stosur.

The Australian started the second set willing to put the missed chance behind as she broke Wozniacki for the second time and then hold serve showing great skills at the net.

The Dane reacted fiercely and, despite a very dodgy call on what would have been a forehand winner down the line –she actually asked the crowd to call the ball, but their confirmation did not change the umpire’s mind-, she broke back.

Both players played very well from then on, but it seemed as if Wozniacki was finding more and more confidence with the games passing.

Stosur managed to save four break points in the seventh game, but she could not replicate on 5-4 when serving to stay in the match, so that the former world number one could close 7-5 6-4.

Next up for Wozniacki will be Sloane Stephens, who easily dispatched a very erratic Caroline Garcia.

 

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