Ana Savic upsets Monica Puig to capture title – Ankara Cup 2012
Croatian qualifier, Ana Savic, stunned second seeded Monica Puig in a three-set epic at the Ankara Cup 2012 on Sunday. She hit back to formulate a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory against the Puerto Rican to claim the crown at this ITF (International Tennis Federation)
Women’s Circuit event taking place from 17th to 23rd December in Ankara, Turkey.
The underdog made an epic comeback from a set down to outshine Puig in their first battle against each other. After recording the victory in almost two and half hours, Savic not only edged the Puerto Rican in their head-to-head series but also bagged the
prize money at this $50,000 event.
The world number 133, Puig made quick in-roads after entering the Ankara Tennis Club. She exchanged two serve breaks before levelling the scores at 5-5. The Puerto Rican then got the breakthrough and eventually clicked the opener with a 7-5 success. She
dusted away half of the four breakpoints she came across but cashed three out of five break chances to inch towards glory.
Savic changed her strategy in the following set. She drew the first blood in the second game and leaped to a 3-0 lead. The Croat then held her composure and eventually pulled out the equaliser with a 6-3 score line. She bagged her entire serves without facing
hindrances and capitalised on the lone break chance to get back in contention.
Ranked 285th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Savic kept her momentum floating into the deciding set. She got the coveted break in the opening game and took the initial lead. Apart from losing her edge in the very next
game, the Croat broke her opponent’s serve again and leaped to a 3-1 lead. She then swiped her remaining serves with conviction and ultimately clicked the decider with a 6-4 win. Savic failed to ward off the lone breakpoint she faced but converted two out
of three break chances to her advantage.
The Croatian starlet upset fifth seed, Marta Sirotkina from Russia, after dominating in the deciding set tie-breaker to reach this spot. She clobbered a 6-7(1), 7-6(2), 7-6(3) score line against the seeded Russian.
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