Ajla Tomljanovic, Anabel Medina Garrigues successful in opening round – Budapest Grand Prix 2011
Ajla Tomljanovic secured a thumping 6-2, 6-2 victory over Hungarian Vanda Lukacs on Monday to book a second round spot at the 2011 Budapest Grand Prix in Hungary. The Croat adopted a very aggrieve baseline strategy and required only 1 hour and 2 minutes dispatching her opponent.
Tomljanovic made a very strong start to the match as she broke the challenger in the very first game of the opening set. Hitting her big forehand and backhand winners all over the court, she established complete control over the contest. Breaking the serve twice in the set, she took an impassable 5-1 lead. Lukacs broke back once to reduce the game score advantage to 5-2. However she suffered a third break of serve to let her opponent take the set score lead 1-0.
Ranked 179th in the world, Tomljanovic continued to display some high quality tennis in the second set as well. Breaking the serve at regular intervals, she put herself in the driving seat. Her ability to win big points played a crucial part in deciding the outcome of the match. Playing in a lovely chip shot, she set up three match points for her and then converted the first one to seal the match in straight sets.
Tomljanovic’s big serves proved to be the main difference between the two players as she fired 6 serve aces in the match. Taking control of the points from the start, she converted 70 per cent of the points on her first serve. Her defence was also admirable as she saved four out of seven break points against her.
Lukacs struggled to handle the pressure and leaked points at crucial stages of the match. Her second serve was very weak, which of course did not help the cause. Making six double faults in the match, the Hungarian tennis-pro was clearly shot of confidence. She will be hoping to achieve better results on her next Women’s Tennis Association tour appearance.
Number five seed Anabel Medina Garrigues also secured a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 victory over Russian Anastasia Pivovarova to advance into the second round of the competition.
Garrigues committed a minimal of unforced errors in match that lasted for only 1 hour and 28 minutes. Breaking the serve regularly, she made her opponent run for her money. Serving with control and accuracy, she hit 63 per cent of her first serves. The Spaniard is having decent time on the tour this season with nearly 62 per cent winning percentage. Winner of 10 WTA titles, Garrigues will be hoping to add one more title to her already impressive list with another strong performance on the clay courts of Hungary.
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