2011 Whirlpool Monterrey Open: Gisela Dulko vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – Semi-final Preview
Argentine Gisela Dulko will take on defending champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the semi-final of 2011 Whirlpool Abierto Monterrey Open on Saturday. The contest is expected to be an exciting one as both players have enjoyed
formidable form recently at the tour.
Dulko breezed past Ksenia Pervak of Russia 6-1, 6-0 in her previous match to book a place in the last four. She posses a phenomenal attacking ability which she can use to penetrate her opponent’s game. Although Dulko had a forgettable
last season when she slipped to world number 73 in the WTA rankings, she came back strongly winning her first Double Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year. Since then the Argentine hasn’t looked back.
She has consistently dominated other players on the tour and is riding on a ten-match winning streak. Dulko won her fourth career title at Mexican Open just a week ago and certainly has carried over the winning momentum into this
tournament as well. She has been absolutely stunning in this Women’s Tennis Association tournament so far and is yet to drop a set. In her second round match she overwhelmed the Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak 64, 6-1 in straight sets.
The only area of concern for Dulko will be her serve as she has produced a large number of double faults which can be decisive against other quality players.
On the other hand, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova had to fight for her semifinal place at the Monterrey Open. In her second match of the competition she was tested both physically and mentally by Greek Eleni Daniilidou. Pavlyuchenkova
came back from a set deficit 2-6, 6-2 and 6-4 to keep her title hopes alive. However, she dismissed any questions of fatigue in her next match, with a straight set victory 6-2 7-6 over the American qualifier Melaine Oudin.
Dulko certainly has a better defence which enabled her to save twelve break points in her last two matches though Pavlyuchenkova struggles in this department. The Argentine has also converted eighty percent of her break chances
in her previous two appearances at the event as compared to fifty eight percent achieved by Pavlyuchenkova.
The two players have faced each other only once at the 2010 U.S. Open when Pavlyuchenkova defeated the Argentine in straight sets. However, Gisela Dulko has improved immensely since then and she has given improved results in the
singles arena in addition to her Australian Open triumph. If she can take charge of the contest early on with an aggressive approach, she stands a very good a chance to reach her second successive final on the tour.
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