Ana Ivanovic wrestles it out with Ayumi Morita in the 2nd round – Mercury Open 2011
Wednesday the 3rd of August was the continuation of the second round of the Mercury Open 2011. Playing each other for the first time this season, both players dulled it out against one another at the La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, California. The 23-year-old, Serb (Ana Ivanovic) battled against the 21-year-old, Japanese (Ayumi Morita) on hard courts, winning 6-1, 7-6(5)
Ivanovic won the pitch and opened the set score to 1-0 by smashing an ace and threw another ace during the set. She struck one less double fault than her opponent, hitting the net. Although, both the players had almost the same first serve hits on target, Ivanovic won 85% of her first serves along with 63% of her second serves and hence, bagged 76% of her total service points. Ivanovic was a defensive baseliner, which aided her to achieve 56% of her total return points. Her defence was strong and did not allow her opponent a single break point opportunity and instead broke her opponent twice.
Mean while, Morita had obtained an average 44% of her total service points along with a pathetic 24% of her total return points. A deplorable defence resulted in her not being able to save nor win any of her break points and she lost the set with almost half fewer points than her opponents.
Frustrated from the first set, the Japanese (Morita) made a comeback in the second set. She played 6 service games and had 7% more in her total service points than the previous set; she also managed to score 18% more in her total return points than the previous set. In addition, she was able to save 50% of her break points and was able to win 40% of the break points. However, she was unable to mark up to her opponent.
Even though Morita took the set to a tie-breaker Ivanovic hung in the set and did not give up easily. Both the players rallied it out until they came to a tie-breaker even then neither player wanted o lose the set, however, Ivanovic won the tie breaker and bagged another set. Hence, she won with a straight set victory.
Across the board; Ivanovic had won 58% of her total service points, along with, 49% of her total return points, thus, winning with 53% in her total set points. Although, it was a close shave between both the players, Ivanovic won the set with a mere 6 points more than Morita’s in the total set score.
She now moves ahead on to the third round to play against her Italian Alberta Brianti.
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