Andrea Petkovic beats Barbora Zahlavova Strycova to reach round two – Generali Ladies Linz 2012
Former German number one, Andrea Petkovic, registered her first win in the fifth successive tournament she has played after coming back from injury. On Tuesday, she dispatched the 92nd ranked Czech, Barbora Zahlavova
Strycova, in the Generali Ladies Linz to book a berth in the second round of the tournament. She registered straight sets score line of 7-6(3), 6-2 in an hour and 54 minutes.
Previously, both these athletes had faced each other on two different occurrences and the head-to-head scores were tied at 1-1. The revenge mission from Petkovic was accomplished earlier in the season during the second round of
the Brisbane International. However, the dismal form of the 25-year-old German did enhance the hopes of her competitor but the opening set tie-breaker defeat broke her heart.
World number 192, Petkovic, started the match in the most agonizing fashion and lost a breakpoint after a gruelling struggle that featured three deuces. However, she recovered emphatically well to win a breakthrough in the following
game that equalized the scores at 2-2. Moreover, both players broke each other’s serve once in the following six games to keep the scores together at 4-4.
The pressure was on the German superstar who had to fight back a break down from two stages in the contest. However, the experience played its part and the 26-year-old Czech couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities provided to
her that enforced the tie-breaker round. Surprisingly, the German won that battle and led the set scores one nil.
Everyone in the arena was so pleased to witness the German diva finding her stride in the contest. Petkovic broke serve thrice in a row to take a gigantic lead of 5-0 in the second set. From there, it was just a matter of time
for the German before she could break the series of losses that has followed her ever since her comeback into the professional circuit from an injury. She did drop a breakthrough in the sixth game but didn’t waste the second chance and clubbed a serve hold
to win the clash.
On Wednesday, Monica Niculescu and Ana Ivanovic will light up the stage in a contest to book a date with Andrea Petkovic in the second round.
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