Andrea Hlavackova stuns Nina Bratchikova in the qualifiers – BNP Paribas Open 2012
Czech tennis star, Andrea Hlavackova, bounced back to topple the 15th seed, Nina Bratchikova, in a three set mouth-watering match at the BNP Paribas Open 2012 on Monday. She joggled up a 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-1 victory over the Russian to book a spot in the final qualifying round at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Mandatory event held in Indian Wells, United States.
Bratchikova played brilliant tennis in the opening set but stepped off steam after that. The underdog on the hand outshined her rival completely in the remaining match and eventually bagged the match in two hours and 20-minutes. As a result, Hlavackova avenged his loss at the Prerov WTA event seven years ago and confidently advanced into the final round of the qualifying competition.
The world number 97 stormed into the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and drew the first blood in the opening game. Bratchikova lost her edge in the very next game but took the lead again in the 11th game after capitalising on another break opportunity. Despite squandering a chance to bag the opening in the last game, she covered it up by ruling the tie-breaker.
The frustrated Czech on the other side made a fitting reply in the second set. She unleashed flurry of groundstrokes to go on a four-game killing spree before Bratchikova could hold on. Hlavackova then held her remaining serves and sealed the equaliser by winning six games to two.
Ranked 129th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Hlavackova stayed into the rage mode in the final set. She again stroke out the opening four games successively before the Russian could keep her serve. The Czech then wiped out the last two games and pocketed a breadstick.
Next in line for the high flying Czech is the fifth seed, Olga Govortsova. The Belarusian overcame Kazakhstan’s Sesil Karatantcheva in three sets to book this spot.
The 23-year-old spilled 10 double faults but broke the Kazakh’s serve nine times to manipulate a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2 score line in their third meeting. She also warded off eight out of 14 breakpoints she came across and ended the match with 120 points.
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