Anabel Medina Garrigues trounces Caroline Wozniacki in round two – Internazionali BNL D’Italia 2012
Spanish number one, Anabel Medina Garrigues, overpowered ill Danish ace, Caroline Wozniacki, at the Internazionali BNL D’Italia 2012 on Wednesday. She registered a 6-4, 4-0 retirement victory against the former world number one to secure a place in the pre-quarters
at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) clay court tournament taking place from 12th to 20th May in Rome.
The Spanish veteran was leading 6-4, 4-0 when Wozniacki was forced to pull out from the tournament due to upper respiratory illness. As a result, Medina Garrigues not only avenged her loss at the Wimbledon Championships three years ago but also lowered trail
in the head-to-head series by 2-4 against the world number eight.
"I have some fever and sore throat, just not feeling great - that makes it even harder to play someone like Anabel on clay," Wozniacki commented in a courtside interview after the match. "I started feeling not great last night. I always get allergies when
I come here. It's unfortunate. I'll just try to get some rest now and then get ready for the French Open."
Medina Garrigues thundered into Foro Italico and went on a four-game tear before Wozniacki could hold on. Despite losing her serve in the sixth game, the Spaniard remained on track and pulled out the opener with a 6-4 score line. She brushed off one out
of two breakpoints she faced and capitalised on two out of seven break opportunities to inch towards the glory.
Ranked 31st in the WTA Premier Rankings, Medina Garrigues kept momentum rolling in the proceeding set and reeled off the opening four games in a row. However, the Dane was unable to continue her match after that, consequently gifting a spot in
the round of 32 to the Spaniard.
All in all, the 29-year-old jolted down a lower first serve share of 65 per cent as compared to her opponent’s 73 per cent but impressively clicked 18 out of 30 points on it. She also sought 10 break opportunities and bagged the match with 56 points.
Next challenge for the high flying Spaniard is another former world number one, Serena Williams from America, who is on a 15-0 win-loss record on clay this season. The American number one bounced back to triumph over Russia’s Nadia Petrova with a 4-6, 6-2,
6-3 success. She lost her serve twice but cashed in half of the eight break chances to steal the show in their 10th match-up.
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