2011 Cellular South Cup: Tomljanovic upset by Rodina
World Number 89, Evgeniya Rodina, managed to defeat Croatian tennis player Ajla Tomljanovic in a gruelling three-set match at the first round of the 2011 Cellular South Cup. The match lasted just under two hours, and kept fans on the edge of their seats
as the scores grew more and more lopsided.
World Number 180, Ajla Tomljanovic, managed to take the first set with unprecedented success, ruining Rodina’s chances of a straight-sets victory. Although the two players did not manage to score any aces, Tomljanovic took away a spectacular 70 per cent
of the total set points in addition to saving two of three break points. She also successfully converted three break points, while Rodina fended off two others. This is quite an achievement for a 17-year-old, and her 6-1 victory in the opening set was a surprise
to spectators.
However, World Number 89 Evgeniya Rodina took matters into her own hands in the second set. It seemed as if she was determined to make up for her unsatisfactory performance in the first set, as she turned the tables to take 71 percent of a total of 38 points.
Both players also managed a set apiece, but Rodina also converted three of five break points successfully. She did not face any break points, and won the set with a bagel. She did not allow her opponent to take a single game.
The third set was yet another surprise for spectators, who expected one or both of the players to be exhausted after such challenging sets. However, the two pros surpassed these expectations by making the third set the most challenging one. The only ace
during the match was fired by Rodina, but the match stayed fiercely aggressive. Both players fought through six service games and the same number of return games, breaking again and again to push the tie-breaking set even further. Rodina managed to win 41
of 79 points in the set, while Tomljanovic won the remaining 48 percent. She won finally won the match in three sets 6-1, 0-6, 7-6(5).
Evgeniya Rodina turned pro in 2004, while her Croatian opponent joined the Women’s Tennis Association [WTA] just two years ago in December 2009. Rodina has played five matches so far this year, and this is her second victory. This is Tomljanovic’s third
match of the season, as well as her second loss. Both players have not won a WTA Tour title yet, although they have played in International Tennis Federation [ITF] tournaments for several years.
Rodina will now face third seed Melanie Oudin, who is playing on home turf. She defeated Russian pro Anastasia Pivovarova 6-4, 6-0 in the first round, and seems to be in great shape for the Memphis event.
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