Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Polona Hercog reach quarterfinals at Whirlpool Monterrey Open
Second seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia beat American Melanie Oudin in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 in the third round, to proceed to the quarterfinal at the Whirlpool Monterrey Open on Wednesday. The Russian, who is currently
ranked World Number 19, took little over an hour and forty one minutes to undo her opponent.
Pavlyuchenkova did not face much resistance from her opponent in the opening set. She broke Oudin twice to win the first set 6-2. The Russian hit four aces and won 52 per cent of the points on her first serve. On the other hand,
Oudin could not hit a single ace and won 62 per cent of the points on her first serve. The American saved five of the seven break points she faced.
Second set was quite competitive, with both players breaking each other’s serve twice. Oudin tried her best to win the set and take the match to the decisive set, but she failed in doing so and lost the set 6-7.
Pavlyuchenkova was lucky to win the set despite serving poorly. She made six double faults and did not hit a single ace. The Russian hit a low 50 per cent of the first serves. However, she managed to win 70 per cent of the points
on them. On the other hand, Oudin hit 79 per cent of the first serves. She was able to save four of the six break points she faced.
Talking about her match, Pavlyuchenkova said, "Melanie is a much more aggressive player than my opponent yesterday so I had to pay much more attention. I played much better."
19 year old, Pavlyuchenkova will face unseeded Greta Arn in the quarterfinal, who upset sixth seeded Sara Errani in three sets 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the second round.
Meanwhile, Polona Hercog of Slovakia prevailed over Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in three sets 6-4, 6-7, 6-2. It took the Slovak two hours and forty four minutes to win the match.
Hercog broke her opponent three times to win the opening set 6-4. She hit two aces and 56 per cent of the first serves in the first set. On the other hand, Zahlavova Strycova hit 62 per cent of the first serves.
After losing the opening set, the Czech bounced back in the second set, winning it 7-6. She converted one of the four break points she received. Pavlyuchenkova hit 72 per cent of the first serves, winning 61 per cent of the points
on them.
In the deciding set, Hercog did not give any chance to her opponent, winning it comfortably 6-2. She hit two aces and broke her opponent three times in the third set.
Hercog is slated to meet Olga Govortsova of Belarus in the quarterfinals.
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