Arina Rodionova pulls out from Fes; Timea Bacsinszky progresses into round two – Fes WTA 2012
Russian starlet, Arina Rodionova, was leading a set but was forced to withdraw after suffering a wrist injury at the Grand Prix De SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem 2012 on Tuesday. The Swiss contender, Timea Bacsinszky, on the other
end secured a place in the second round at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International-level tournament held in Fes, Morocco.
Rodionova made a brilliant start at the Royal Tennis Club de Fes and quickly swiped in the opener. However, she lost her track due to a wrist injury and after trailing 0-4 in the second set, the Russian was retired from the match.
Ranked 246th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Rodionova stormed into the Moroccan courts and stroke out the opening four games in a row with two breaks of serve. She maintained her intensity after that and exchanged two
serve breaks, eventually sealing the opener by winning six games to two.
The 22-year-old Swiss went out of control in the second set and went on a four-game tear before Rodionova felt severe pain and withdrew from the event. As a result, Bacsinszky set-up a date with third seeded Petra Cetkovska of
Czech Republic.
Overall, the Tambov native outshined throughout her match against the world number 567. She clobbered a better first serve share of 70 per cent as compared to the Swiss’ 64 per cent and impressively availed 15 out of 28 points
on it. She also warded off five out of nine breakpoints she faced and cashed in half of the eight break chances.
Elsewhere, eighth seeded Shahar Peer earned the spotlight after hitting back at Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova.
"As much as I was frustrated, I kept fighting and I was aggressive in the right moments, in the last few games especially. I think that was important," the Israeli number one was quoted after the match. "It was a long match. I
think I should have finished it off earlier, but I'm really happy that I won. Hopefully, I'll sleep well tonight."
Peer brushed off 10 out of 17 breakpoints she came across and capitalised on eight out of 25 break opportunities to formulate a 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 victory. She spilled more double faults but hammered four aces to seal the deal in two
hours and 50 minutes.
The world number 54 will next face the French lucky loser, Mathilde Johansson, who was underplayed by Rodionova in the final qualifying round of this competition. However, Johansson crushed Nadia Lalami with double breadsticks
to secure this position.
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