Alexandra Dulgheru bounces back against Polona Hercog to advance at Brussels Ladies Open
Seventh seed, Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania made an epic come from a set down to win against Polona Hercog of Slovenia in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 nail biter match on Tuesday. She has now advanced into the second round of the 2011 Open de Bruxelles, a clay court tournament held in Brussels, Belgium.
World number 28, Dulgheru became triumphant over the world number 55, Slovene in a three set thriller on their third meeting. After earning the success at Royal Primerose Tennis Club, she took the lead in her head-to-head series by 2-1 against Hercog
The Slovene made quick in-roads and stormed into the opening set by winning first five games in a row before Dulgheru could hold on. She lost her serve in the seventh game but quickly snatched it back to seal the opener by winning six games to two. 20-year-old produced a slightly higher first serve share and earned an impressive 69 percent win on it. Hercog saved three breakpoints faced and converted three out of seven breakpoint opportunities to her advantage to help win comfortably.
Dulgheru bounced back in the match and superbly held her opening serve of the second set to level the scores by 1-1. Later, she smoothly held her entire serves and broke the Slovene’s serve in the seventh game to win the equaliser with a 6-4 score line. She faced zero breakpoint and converted one out of seven breakpoint opportunities to her advantage.
The seeded Romanian carried her winning ways in the decider and after Hercog held her serve in the first game, she reeled off the following five games in a row to take the 5-1 lead. Dulgheru then held in the last game to clinch the set with an assuring 6-2 score line. She produced an amazing first serve share and registered a spectacular 81 percent win on it.
Dulgheru entered this WTA Premier event after standing on a three match losing streak. She carried her losing ways in the opening set but snapped out of the streak by re-forming in the next two sets. She hasn’t had much progress this season except for making quarter-final berths at Miami and Marbella.
21-year-old Romanian will next face Czech Klara Zakopalova in this $618,000 event. The Czech downed Russian Ksenia Pervak in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 three set thriller to reach this spot.
All the remaining seeds scheduled on this day, advanced into the second round. Two qualifiers, Alison Van Uytvanck and Galina Voskoboeva, also shared the same fate and will be joining Dulgheru in the second round.
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