Alexa Glatch annihilates Sania Mirza in straight sets to move into main draw – Cincinnati Open 2011
Counting another defeat in her book, Sania Mirza lost the final qualifier round of the Cincinnati Open 2011 against American Alexa Glatch. Playing at the Lindner Family Tennis Centre, Ohio, the world No.64 went down against a mismatched counterpart, ranked at world No.151 in straights sets 6-2, 6-4. Mirza lasted hardly 66 minutes before she was shown the way back to the locker room.
Settling scores with the Indian world No.64, Glatch took over the Asian by surprise. The 21-year-old mastered the hard court in Ohio. Standing at 1.83 meters, the young American displayed greater stamina and power. The right-hander has been jumping up the rankings recently. Her 25 to 13 win loss record had a pretty convincing impact on the betting odds as well.
The disrupted Indian was one again helpless standing frustrated and smiling at the same time. Winning the last head on match against the American, Mirza was certainly over powered by the huge 21-year-old. However, the worst part was that a well experienced world no.64 could not stand her ground against a newcomer.
The 24-year-old Indian served to open the first set and the scoreboard, 1-0. Glatch followed winning the next set to level the scores at 1-1 but Mirza once again took the lead winning game 3, 2-1. The 21-year-old, playing with brilliance, once again levelled the terms with the Indian at 2-2.
Game 5 ended with the American breaking the higher ranked Indian and led 3-2. Her lead extended further as she broke Mirza once again in game 7 and mustered game 8 blistering the first set 6-2. Statistically, Glatch had a stronger hand on the return points. Winning 17 service and 12 return points the American closed the set totalling 29 points and onto the next set.
Mirza served once again to open up. Dominating at the start, the Indian took off winning 4 out of the first five games of the set, 4-1, breaking the American 21-year-old in game 4. However, Glatch mesmerized the crowed and her challenger yet again. Cutting the lead to 4-2 after game 6, she broke the world No.64 in the next and then in game 9. Winning 5 games back-to-back, the youngster landed winning the 2nd set 6-4 and the match 6-2, 6-4.
The 33 points in the second set added to the 29 in the first totalling 62 for the American’s win. Although she had a clear-cut win over the Indian, the 21-year-old now sits in a tougher spot, the main draws of the Cincinnati Open 2011.
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