Roberta Vinci reached her maiden WTA Premier final on Saturday in St. Petersburg, her first final on the tour since her historical run at the US Open. It is Vinci’s 15th WTA final. The Italian will be looking for her 10th WTA career title.
Ana Ivanovic started the match better, pressurising Roberta Vinci on her second serve, saving a break point in the first game and building on her first chance to break the Italian’s serve. The Serb took control of the rallies, cutting the points short and not allowing Vinci to create and work on her web of pace and shot mixing. The 2008 French Open champion took a 3-0 lead as Vinci called on court her coach Francesco Cina, angrily discussing the slow start of the match.
Reinvigorated by the meeting with her coach the Italian won 8 of the following 10 point, working her way onto the scoreboard and into the match, quickly impacting back at 3-3. Ivanovic felt the change in momentum and started to miss more, unable to keep the rallies short and take control of the actions right away.
After six games we're all level!@AnaIvanovic wins the first three@Roberta_Vinci wins the next three #WTA https://t.co/qI40lQA7Kv
— wta (@WTA) February 13, 2016
Serving down 3-4 the Italian faced another break point, but saved it with a deep first serve. Coming at the net, more aggressive with her forehand, the US Open finalist managed to trail back at 4-4, and was called to serve to stay in the set down 4-5 with Ivanovic keeping a good percentage of first serves.
Firing a forehand winner down the line, the Serb saw a chance to close the set up 15-30 on Vinci’s serve. The Italian managed not to face break points serving two strong first serves and closing the game with a stunning backhand drop shot. Up 40-15 on her serve at 5-5, Ana lost her rhythm, hit a double fault and missed a forehand to lose the game as Vinci broke serve for the second time in the set, setting herself up to serve for the set up 6-5.
Roberta served her second ace in the match and closed the game to 30 clinching the first set, after 44 minutes. Vinci won the set point at the net, her 13th point won at the net in the set.
1st set @Roberta_Vinci✓
Serves out the opening set vs Ivanovic 7-5! #WTA https://t.co/BTALETyhav
— wta (@WTA) February 13, 2016
Both players started the second set serving well and not facing break points to set the score at 3-3. As Ivanovic hit a backhand in the net, Vinci was the first to see a break point chance. The Serb missed another backhand, this time long, allowing the Italian to regain the lead up 4-3.
Despite having a chance up 15-30 on the Italian’s serve, Ivanovic kept on missing easy shots, ending up losing yet another game. With Vinci leading 5-3, the Serb served to stay in the match. At 15-15 the Serb hit a double fault, but got right back into the game thanks to a backhand cross court winner that caught the line. The Serb closed the game with a forehand inside out winner, making sure to have Vinci needing to serve for the match to win.
Ivanovic won the first two points of the 10th game with a return winner and forehand down the line. Vinci managed to get back into the game, firing an ace to get to 30-30. The Serb got to break point with a forehand return fired full power. Vinci responded with a first serve and forehand winner.
The Serb missed a drop shot at deuce, as Vinci saw her first match point opportunity. The Italian approach the net with a backhand slice attack and won the match as Ivanovic missed her last backhand of the match long.
Vinci won the match 7-5 6-4 in 1 hour and 18 minutes.
It's a 15th #WTA final for @Roberta_Vinci! https://t.co/mek2RnidGX
— wta (@WTA) February 13, 2016
