Bell Challenge 2010: Lucie Safarova breezes into semis
The third seeded tennis ace, Lucie Safarova has won the quarter final round of the Bell Challenge tennis tournament after getting the better of Melanie Oudin in a total of three sets on Friday. The final match score was 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
As a result of this victory, Lucie has successfully made her way into the semi final round of the Bell Challenge in Quebec.
The third-seeded Safarova, who was also a runner up here back in 2009 was down 3-0 during the third set of the match and even faced a total of two points for a deficit of 4-0 before turning things in her favour, grabbing the next five games consecutively
to take a lead of 5-3 and at last serving it out easily.
Safarova after the match while commenting on her victory said, "I lost the first set then came back to play the next one with a new hope without thinking much of the match score at that moment. And that strategy worked wonders for me as I managed to win
the second set in my today’s match. However, as the third set started, I was again down in the beginning but I was not ready to give up and so I kept on playing well and didn’t lose faith in my talent. I waited for my opportunities and thankfully took them
rightly. I was not feeling confident during the start however as the match progressed my game started to improve. Both of us played some great tennis in the decisive set of the game and I am extremely glad that I won it in the end.”
The fifth seeded Oudin on the other hand said, “I am not happy with the way how I played in my today’s match. I am quite disappointed at the moment. In spite of the fact that I had a couple of opportunities throughout the match but still I didn’t took them
while Lucie on the other hand played some incredible shots at times when it was needed the most and that made the difference in the end.”
Next up for Lucie is another former finalist here, Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Sands who reached her very first final of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour back in 2008, took another step forward to a second career final at the same place, defeating her Canadian opponent,
Rebecca Marino in the opening evening clash in a total of two sets. The final match score was 6-4, 7-6 (4). She led 6-4, 4-2 before the rising tennis star from Canada rallied, however the American held on in the end.
Marion has a huge serve and a powerful forehand therefore, the court here in Quebec suits her style of game but even then the Canadian couldn’t make use of the court advantage to win a match on Friday.
"She has a tremendous variety in her game which makes her really tough to play on the court. I would have liked to serve better however I didn’t play that bad in my opinion. It’s just that she played better than me. She smashed some brilliant shots. Overall,
I have played quite well throughout this summer and so I am looking forward to continue my form for the rest of the season as well,” said Marino.
Earlier in the day, Christina McHale and Tamira Paszek booked their semi final berth. Paszek won her match against the eight seeded, Sofia Arvidsson in a total of two sets. The final match score was 6-3, 5-1 while McHale dismissed Alexa Glatch in a two setter
clash. The final match score was 6-3, 6-1.
The nineteen-year old Paszek, will be going for her third career final, having triumphed in Portoroz back in 2006 and ending as a finalist at Bali back in 2008.
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