Alexandra Panova downs Stephanie Dubois to reach main draw – Internationaux de Strasbourg 2012
Qualifying second seed, Alexandra Panova dumped the Canadian starlet, Stephanie Dubois, in straight sets at the Internationaux de Strasbourg 2012 on Monday. She jolted down a 6-3, 6-4 success against the sixth seed in the final round of the qualifying competition
at this clay court event held in Strasbourg, France.
The Krasnodar native broke Dubois serve’s four times to carve out the victory in one hour and 28 minutes. Facing each other for the fourth time, Panova not only avenged her loss at the French Open last season but conquered the Canadian for the first time.
Panova stepped into this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International-level tournament with self-assurance and smoothly held her serves until she drew the first blood in the sixth game. Despite losing her serve in the very next game, the Russian cashed
in her second break chance in the eighth game and subsequently sealed the opener by winning six games to three.
Ranked 77th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Panova kept momentum floating into the proceeding set and earned the coveted break in the opening game to take the initial lead. Apart from losing her lead in the fourth game, the Russian got the breakthrough
in the seventh game and clicked the set with a 64 win.
All in all, the Moscow resident clobbered a better first serve share of 76 per cent as compared to the Canadian’s 69 per cent but brilliantly clinched 32 out of 52 points on it. She also tremendously marked 65 points and fired an ace to prevail.
Next challenge for Panova is fifth seeded German, Mona Barthel, in the opening round.
The qualifying third seed, Mandy Minella, lost her match against America’s Lauren Davis. She was edged out against the 18-year-old after warding off only seven out of 12 breakpoints she faced. The Luxembourgian star capitalised on five out of 17 break opportunities
but eventually suffered a 6-2, 3-6, 4-6 shock in two hours and 18 minutes. She also spilled more double faults and unforced errors.
However, Minella became a lucky loser and she advanced to confront Czech Republic’s Lucie Hradecka in round one.
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