Arina Rodionova, Shuko Aoyama successful in the final qualifying round – AEGON Classic 2011
Russian tennis player Arina Rodionova defeated Gail Brodsky of United States in three tight sets 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5) to advance into the main draw of 2011 AEGON Classic tennis Championships in Birmingham.
Ranked 233rd in the world, Rodionova clinched the opening set in the tie-breaker. Brodsky put up a brilliant fight to even the set score. However, the Russian kept focus on her game and emerged victorious after the third
set went into another tie-breaker.
The 21-year-old Rodionova started the match on a very positive note. She looked to create difficult angles and used the court extremely effectively to place her forehand and backhand shots. The American was also up for the challenge
as she traded serve breaks with Rodionova to force the set into a tie-breaker. Clinching four straight points in the tie-breaker, the Russian made a couple of set points available to her. She converted the first one with a blistering serve ace as she pocketed
the opener.
Brodsky held her nerves and made an astonishing comeback in the second set. The contestants held on to their serve games without any trouble as the game score levelled at 3-3. Brodsky had her first chance of breaking the serve
in seventh game of the set when Rodionova miss timed an easy backhand winner on to the net to give a couple of break points to her. Converting the first one, she earned a crucial 5-3 lead in the set. Handling the pressure brilliantly, she secured her next
service game with ease to shift the balance of the match.
Both players refused to give up on their serve games in the decider as the set was forced into another tie-breaker. Showing her class and amazing mental strength, Rodionova took 6-5 lead in the set, serving for the match. With
a well disguised drop shot, she ended the match that lasted for more than 2 hours and 48 minutes.
Meanwhile, Japanese tennis player Shuko Aoyama stunned American Lindsay Lee-Waters with a 6 -7 (3-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) victory here at the Edgbaston Priory Club on Sunday.
Aoyama made a slow start to the match as number of her backhand and forehand shots landed outside the lines in the opening set. Lee-Waters was ready to pounce on the opportunities and clinched the set in the tie-breaker.
Looking solid in the second set, Aoyama broke her opponent early to shift the balance of the match, earning 4-1 lead in the set. She held on to that lead to even the set score 1-1.
The third and final set also proved to be a tight one but Aoyama held her nerves and came out on top to book her place in the main draw of grass court tournament.
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