Andrea Petkovic runs past Roberta Vinci in 3rd round – US Open 2011
Saturday the 3rd of September saw German Andrea Petkovic outshine Italian Roberta Vinci in the third round of the US Open. Duelling for 67 minutes at the grandstand both the players put in their best efforts but Petkovic won in straight sets of 6-4, 6-0.
This was the first time the two were colliding in their professional career. Petkovic seeded 10, was in form as she had a great hard court season. A semi finalist and quarter finalist at most events, eventually managed to win her second WTA title at the Strasbourg Open this year by defeating Marion Bartoli in the first set but in the second Bartoli rendered the match and gave up.
Mean while, the Italian Vinci too had an amazing tour as she was able to bag three WTA titles this year. Although, she didn’t have a great hard court season, she won the first title at Barcelona, Spain where she defeated Lucie Hradecka in three sets. She then moved on to outfoxing Jelena Dokic in the final of ‘S-Hertogenbosch and ultimately won on the clay courts of Budapest.
Both the players were in supreme form and took up the gauntlet. Opening the first set was Petkovic who initiated the score at 1-0. Vinci won on her serve but in the third game she was first to break and took the lead 2-1. However, Petkovic was not going to let Vinci spoil her winning streak and broke her adversary to equal the score at 2-2 and in a reversal of fate held her serve to take the lead at 3-2. During the sixth and seventh game both the players broke each other and by the eighth the score board read at 4-4. Petkovic again won on her serve and as Vinci was about to equalize the score her defence faltered and grasping the final opportunity broke her adversary for the third time to bag the set at 6-4.
Although, Vinci had struck one double fault, 16 unforced errors, she was still able to hit 12 winners against Petkovic, who managed only 9. With a difference of only 6 points in the total set score Vinci lost the first set.
As Petkovic powered through the first set, she set the tone for the second and in the next 25 minutes completely pounded her Italian challenger. Opening the second set was also Petkovic but because of a weak defence and by committing 12 unforced errors Vinci let her defence slip. Petkovic took the advantage, as she was not only able to win on her serves but managed to break Vinci on her serve. Thus capitalizing on three break points Petkovic saw a speedy victory of 6-0.
Unable to control the unforced errors and lack winners resulted in Vinci losing the set and the match. Petkovic secured a place in the fourth round where she will now be facing Espanola Carla Suarez Navarro.
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