Ani Mijacika shocks Maria Elena Camerin in qualifiers – Nurnberger Gastein Ladies 2012
Croatian underdog, Ani Mijacika, upset the sixth seed, Maria Elena Camerin of Italy, in straight sets at the Nurnberger Gastein Ladies 2012 on Sunday. She jolted down a 6-3, 6-3 victory against the Italian veteran to cruise into
the final round of the qualifying competition at this red clay court tournament taking place in Bad Gastein, Austria.
The Croatian starlet was broken four times but stood firm and carved out the victory in one hour and 11 minutes. She capitalised on seven out of 11 break opportunities and ruled throughout the match.
Mijacika thundered into this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International-level event and after drawing the first blood in the second game, she took a 2-0 lead. She lost her edge in the very next game but capitalised on another
break chance to leap to a 4-1 lead. Despite losing their edge again in the eighth game, the Croat stayed in contention by breaking her rival’s serve in the eighth game. She then served out the opener, eventually registering a 6-3 success.
Ranked 237th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Mijacika improved her form towards the following set and reeled off the opening four games in a row before Elena Camerin could hold on. She then exchanged two serves breaks and
clicked the set by winning six games to three.
All in all, the 24-year-old smashed seven aces and committed only five double faults. She produced a slightly higher first serve share of 57 per cent as opposed to her rival’s 56 per cent and amazingly availed 24 out of 32 points
on it.
Next challenge for the Croat is the top seed, Dia Evtimova, who rallied past local wildcard entrant, Janina Toljan, in three sets to set up this battle.
The eighth seeded Dutch, Richel Hogenkamp, will accompany Mijacika in the final qualifying round. She clobbered a lower first serve share but brilliantly marked 26 out of 30 points on it, subsequently outmuscling Croatia’s Maria
Abramovic in straight sets.
She will next face fifth seeded Ines Ferrer Suarez who took down Czech Republic’s Sandra Zahlavova in three sets to progress at this event.
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