Aleksandra Wozniak rallies past Elena Vesnina into the second round – Bell Challenge 2012
Seeded fourth in the draw, Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada made a good start at the place where she made her qualifying debut 10 years back, as she outlasted Russia’s doubles specialist, Elena Vesnina, in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
in the opening round of the Bell Challenge on Tuesday.
If her qualifying tries are included, Wozniak is making her ninth appearances at this hard court event, which is held in the Quebec City in Canada.
The Canadian number one made initial breakthrough in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. She could not capitalise on that, losing the following two and evening out the proceedings at 2-2. However, it was an all Wozniak show after
that, as she captured four games in a row to close it 6-2.
In the second set, Wozniak and Vesnina made a stable start, as they held their serve in the first six games to equalise the score at 3-3. The Russian contender hit a blow to the home favourite in the seventh and consolidated on
it to attain a 5-3 lead. Vesnina did not allow the Canadian star to bounce back and captured it 6-4.
Opening five games of the decider went in a similar way to the second set, as both players won their serve to take the score to 3-2 in favour of Wozniak. The Canadian participant nailed a break in the sixth to go up 4-2 but Vesnina
hit back at that moment to take the proceedings to 4-3. Though, the Russian veteran could not stop her higher ranked singles opponent from winning the next two games and closing it 6-3.
Wozniak said during the post match press conference, "I'm excited to play here again. I was playing an opponent who plays like me, offensive tennis. We had some really good points. Playing indoors you have to adjust your game because
the points are shorter. You have to go for more winners and mix it up a bit when you have the opportunity. It wasn't easy. Overall, I'm happy I'm through to the second round.”
She added, "It's nice to hear the encouragement from the fans. They helped me focus and stay motivated to win points."
Wozniak will take on the world number 115, Melanie Oudin of USA, for a place in her second quarter-finals at this event. Oudin defeated her lower ranked compatriot, Irina Falconi, in the first round.
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