Aoyama/ Fujiwara oust Cibulkova/ Date-Krumm in the quarterfinal – Bank of the West Classic 2011
Japanese Shuko Aoyama and Rika Fujiwara made a comeback win against Slovak - Japanese pair of Dominika Cibulkova and Kimiko Date Krumm in a three set thriller at the Bank of the West Classic 2011, a WTA Premier International event
held on the hard courts in California, United States. They registered a 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 win over their rivals to advance into the semi-finals on Friday.
The Japanese duo re-focused after the opening set to earn a three setter victory over the Slovak Japanese pair in one hour and sixteen minutes. After earning this victory at the Taube Tennis Center in Stanford University, they
advanced into the last four of this event.
Cibulkova and Krumm made quick in-roads in the opening set. They saved the only breakpoint faced and converted one out of three breakpoint opportunities to their advantage to clinch the opener with a 6-3 win. The Slovak Japanese
pair capitalised on many unforced errors and two double faults their opponents committed and produced a slightly higher first serve share of 69 percent as compared to their rivals’ 64 percent. They also registered a superb 80 percent win on it.
Aoyama and Fujiwara found their rhythm in the second set. They lost their serve once but capitalised on two out of three breakpoint opportunities to their advantage to pocket the equaliser with a 6-4 win. The Japanese pair produced
a much better first serve share of 75 percent as opposed to their rivals’ 55 percent and earned a convincing 57 percent win on it.
The Japanese tandem perfected their co-ordination in the final set or the super tie-breaker. They clobbered an equal first serve share of 75 percent but registered a perfect win on it. Aoyama and Fujiwara prevailed in it and eventually
sealed the decider with a 10-6 score line.
The winning combination of Aoyama and Fujiwara will next face the winner of the match between top seeded Americans, Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond, and Canadian team of Sharon Fichman and Marie-Eve Pelletier.
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