2011 Hopman Cup: Review Session 7 – Bethanie Mattek-Sands vs. Francesca Schiavone
United States moved into the pole position to qualify for the final today after her second round robin match against Italy at the 2011 Hopman Cup (HC) in Perth. Sixteen tennis players of different nationalities are competing in
teams of two at the event this week.
Kicking off play of the day were Francesca Schiavone and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Schiavone is participating for the third time at the event having participated in 2002 and 2005 with David Sanguinetti. She played her opening clash
against Laura Robson on Monday when Italy met Great Britain. In a hard fought battle between the two, Schiavone defeated Robson by 7-5, 6-3. Schiavone entered the match today with a 1-0 score.
Ranked seven in the world, Schiavone finished 2010 with two title wins, winning them at Barcelona and at the Roland Garros. This was her first year finishing in the top ten.
Mattek-Sands, on the other hand, is not only ranked much lower than the Italian but this is also her first participation at the event. She replaced Serena Williams after the latter pulled out due to an injury causing United States
to lose its seed position.
Mattek-Sands played her debut match at the event on Monday against French Kristina Mladenovic. Ranked much higher than her French opponent, the American clinched her first HC victory after a hard fought battle coming back from
being one set down in the opener. Losing the first set 3-6, Mattek-Sands bounced back to reverse the score in the second before securing a bagel win in the decider.
Although Schiavone enjoyed the ranking superiority and even perhaps the skill set, it seems she needed more to dominate the world no. 58 American. Winning the toss, Mattek-Sands opened the serve. With both players winning games
on their service, the score was tied till 4-4. Breaking service on the ninth and then winning the game on the tenth, Mattek-Sands clinched the first set 6-4. She repeated the feat in the second set to bag it 6-4 and win the match for United States.
In a match that lasted ninety-three minutes, Mattek-Sands converted four break points, served two aces and committed two double faults to win her second match at the event. She now enjoys a 2-0 mark, the highest amongst the women
in Group B.
Delighted over her win against a top ten player, Mattek-Sands said, "I worked pretty hard during the off-season and I had to hang in with Francesca, she's a great player. That last game, I mean I was running side to side, but it
was a great match. I've been without a coach for a long time, I've had a hitting partner here and there, but I was really picky with the coach. I really wanted someone that believed in my game, I play aggressive and not a lot of people take chances like me.
I needed to find someone that liked that style and believed in me. My goal going into this match was to get in the net before she did. She's an aggressive player and I was just trying to take her high balls early and not get myself behind the baseline too
far."
Mattek-Sands next plays Robson on Friday while Schiavone plays Mladenovic on the same day.
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