Alberta Brianti overhauls Zuzana Kucova in the second round – e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open 2011
Alberta Brianti came from a set down to defeat Zuzana Kucova of Slovakia in her second round match at the e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open, winning with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 scoreline.
It was Kucova’s aggression on the fast indoor court that ensured she made the better start and after missing out on breaking Brianti’s serve in the opening game of the match, the 28-year-old did not make the same mistake the second
time around and came to the net with some deft touch to convert the opportunity into a 3-1 lead.
One break soon became three as Kucova raced to the first set in no time. Her flashy brand of tennis played dividends against Brianti’s weak defensive game, who struggled to find her range from the baseline.
With the Italian’s baseline game failing in every department, Brianti began to switch things up, as in the second set she combined some big serves with serve-and-volley play to stop the Slovak’s attempts to again open up the early
advantage.
With Brianti finding a way to defeat the world No. 147, games remained on serve until the 10th game of the set, when the 2011 Fes Champion found herself with her crucial break point chance of the match to level the match at one
set apiece. However, the decisive break of serve was not far away as the world number 57 chased down another drop shot to hit a winner and closed the match, taking a little over two hours and five minutes of play.
Brianti wrapped up her clean effort with two aces and six double-faults. Not to mention, she scored 56 percent of points on her service, 49 percent of points on return and 53 percent of points in total to race through to the quarterfinals
in attitude.
The Italian expressed her views in a post match interview, saying, "I didn't start so well. I wasn't so patient and missed a lot of shots trying to finish off the points too early, but I started focusing more and playing my game,
I'm happy to get the victory and move into the quarterfinals."
Brianti, who is the first-time participant at the e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open, has successfully made it to the quarterfinals for the first time in her career. She now marches on into the quarterfinal of the tournament where she will
face either, world number one and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark or Angelique Kerber of Germany.
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