Agnieszka Radwanska, Petra Kvitova secure last 16 berths – AEGON International 2011
Top Pole, Agnieszka Radwanska moved into her quarterfinal match at the AEGON International in Eastbourne on Wednesday, when she defeated fourth-seeded Francesca Schiavone in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
Playing in her tenth tournament of the year, Radwanska not only moves into quarterfinal for the second time at Eastbourne but she also moves into her fifth quarterfinal on tour having enjoyed a quarterfinal run at Stuttgart two
months ago.
Serving in the opener, Radwanska struck a single ace to Schiavone’s zero. Holding the Italian to ten points, Radwanska saved four of four break opportunities and converted 100% of break opportunities to her advantage as she rushed
to a 6-3 win and a 1-0 lead in the set score.
Maintaining her form in the following set, Radwanska was able to repeat the feat as she won the final set with six games to two.
Losing only 19 of 61 points on service, Radwanska successfully converted three of five break opportunities as she secured a spot for herself in the last sixteen.
Meeting Radwanska in the next round is the fifth-seeded Czech, Petra Kvitova. Also moving into her sixth quarterfinal of the tour, Kvitova powered her way into the quarterfinals of the tournament after a 7-6(8), 7-6(4) victory
over the defending champion, Ekaterina Makarova of Russia.
To her credit, the Russian fought to the end, but she was unable to prevent Kvitova from serving for an ultimately highly impressive victory.
Showing no signs of fatigue, Kvitova raced to a 6-0 lead in the first set. Makarova finally got on the scoreboard to reduce the deficit to 6-6, but she never got any closer in the tie-breaker because she missed one of her break-point
chance and lost the second set, eight games to ten.
The second set started in the same vein as the previous one had finished with Kvitova and her opponent trading breaks to force a tiebreaker. The Russian, who reached the fourth round of French Open for the first time her career
two weeks ago, fell behind early in the 'breaker and could not get back on track and Kvitova rolled through it, seven points to four.
The Czech woman wrapped up the match with four aces, while committing two double-faults. Furthermore, she clinched 64 percent of points on her service, 37 percent of points on return and a total of 85 of 165 in the process. Makarova,
on the other hand, failed to show the form she showed at the 2010 Eastbourne, clinching the title for the first time at the tournament, and losing the match with a difference of five points in total.
Radwanska and Kvitova will be going head-to-head for the second time in their career with the Czech leading the series to 1-0. Although, Kvitova currently leads the head-to-head score, Radwanska’s recent form suggests that the
pole might be finally able to win over the Czech.
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