BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open; Highlights from Wednesday
All the four seeds bundled out of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open Women’s singles tournament, except Ana Ivanovic who had no such problems on Wednesday.
Ana, who is coming off her title victory in Linz, is currently ranked number twenty six in the world. She won the crown last week after a period of two complete years. The Serbian in her opening match in Luxembourg dispatched off Johanna Larsson in straight
sets. The final match score was 6-3, 6-0. They split the opening six games before the fourth seed Ana won the next nine to clinch win on Wednesday. It was her ninth victory in her past ten clashes.
The 22-year-old Ana who turned pro back in 2003, while commenting on her opponent after the match said, "She is dangerous. I actually practiced with her earlier this season. She is a young, up and coming player with a huge serve and a big game. I tried to
put pressure on her, and I served well today. I am very glad that I managed to win by that score."
The Basel born as a result of this victory was due to take on Arantxa Parra Santonja, who won the title here back in 2007. When asked about her next clash, the right hander added, "I am just going to try to play like I did today and last week and hope to
keep that level up. It is going to be tough. There are no easy matches.”
Ana is also contesting in the doubles event in Luxembourg along with her partner Yanina Wickmayer and they triumphed in their opening round clash, defeating Aurelie Vedy and Chanelle Scheepers in three sets only to meet the fourth seed Renata Voracova and
Lucie Hradecka in the quarters.
Other seeds in the opening round matches on Wednesday were not that successful, as Patty Schnyder who was defeated by Ana Ivanovic in the final of Linz last week, got the better of her third seed opponent, Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets. The final match
score was 6-4, 6-4. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, on the other hand surpassed the last year’s winner Timea Bacsinszky with a score line of 7-5, 6-1.
Barbora after the match while commenting on her victory said that Yanina is a good player and has improved her game over the years so it feels great to win against her. She served and returned well right from the start of the match on Wednesday. Barbora
also looked confident and her game was almost flawless against the defending champion, Bacsinszky.
Meanwhile, Zahlavova Strycova, who had lost six of her past seven clashes prior to this week, did well against Bacsinszky to get past her in two sets. The final match score was 5-3, 5-4.
It was a see-saw match as Bacsinszky had the match point at one stage and the next moment Strycova took charge of the game. Bacsinszky, after losing on Wednesday reflected that she is still happy and satisfied with her overall performance as she has been
playing some good tennis since July this season.
In some of the second round clashes on Wednesday, Kirsten Flipkens thrashed out her second seed opponent Aravane Rezai in two sets. The final match score was 6-0, 6-1. The clash concluded in a time period of forty seven minutes. Iveta Benesova, on the other
hand, brushed aside Jarmila Groth of Australia in straight sets while the eight seed Julia Goerges overpowered Carla Suarez Navarro in two sets. The final match score was 6-2, 6-1.
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