2011 French Open: Svetlana Kuznetsova battles past Magdalena Rybarikova in the opening match
World number fourteen Svetlana Kuznetsova from Russia thoroughly entertained her fans by playing some exquisite shots on both sides of the courts and earned a convincing win over the Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova with a 6-2, 6-3
score line and advanced into the second round of the Roland Garros.
Kuznetsova took 79 minutes to win the contest. The Russian player fired a single ace and complemented it with 24 winners. Furthermore she converted five of sixteen break points, while her opponent converted only one. The Russian
was just on top form and overpowered Rybarikova in almost every department. She outplayed her Slovakian opponent in straight sets and showed the world that how well she could serve by pounding down some impressive serves.
The Russian began the match in a very aggressive manner, asserting her authority by holding and breaking serve to lead 5-3. However, Rybarikova quickly fought back and held serve to stay in the first set but with Kuznetsova holding
such an intimidating lead, it looked like the Russian would take it with extreme ease. And Kuznetsova did it, taking the first set six games to three, leaving Rybarikova searching for her answers on how to defeat this puzzle named “Svetlana Kuznetsova.”
In the second set, Rybarikova entered the court with some new plans and raised her game to stay neck in neck with the Russian. Kuznetsova was still dictating the terms and did not allow Rybarikova to get the better of her. She
continued to play tremendously and fired 79 percent of first serve, winning 61 percent of points on them. Furthermore, she converted three of thirteen break point opportunities and closed out the second set 6-3.
Kuznetsova put in top quality performance to ensure her berth at the second round of the French Open. No doubt the Slovakian started the match vigorously and had four break points opportunities but she remained unable to convert
any of them. From then on Kuznetsova was on top, powering the ball to Rybarikova’s forehand, who was unable to last the pace and allowed her skilled opponent to dictate the terms. The 25-year-old Kuznetsova looked very comfortable and concluded the match with
a first serve percentage of 80 percent in total.
The Russian concluded her straight sets victory by scoring 66 percent points behind her first serve and 51 percent of points on return. In contrast, Rybarikova earned 59 percent of points on her first serve and a meagre 36 percent
on return.
Emerging victorious today, Kuznetsova has improved her year-to-date win loss mark to 18-11 matches and is all-set to headline second-round action in Paris, as she squares off against either Aravane Rezai of France or Irina-Camelia
Begu of Romania in the second round of the French Open.
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