Caroline Wozniacki battles past Lucie Hradecka into second round – China Open 2011
Reigning world number one and top seeded Dane, Caroline Wozniacki bounced back from a set down to do away with the unseeded Czech Lucie Hradecka in their opening round match at the 2011 China Open in Beijing on Monday, 3rd
October.
Toiling away for nearly two hours, Wozniacki required three sets to secure a 3-6, 6-0, 7-5 win over her Czech opponent.
Winning the toss, Wozniacki opened serve only to be broken by Hradecka who clinched an early 2-0 lead. Breaking back in the fourth game, Wozniacki was able to level the scores at two games each. Standing at three games each, Hradecka
broke the Dane in the seventh game to lead 4-3 which she extended to 5-3 on her serve. With no difficulty, Hradecka lost no points to break the Dane in the ninth game, clinching a 6-3 win.
Capitalizing on the Dane’s four double faults, Hradecka added her own 90 percent first serve win to the mix as she went one up in the set score.
Down but not out, Wozniacki proved true to her billing as the top seed in the second set as she bounced back with the fire of a hungry lioness. Converting three of seven breakpoint opportunities to her advantage with her own impregnable
defence, Wozniacki clinched an easy bagel set win to bring the set score to even terms.
With a set win apiece, the pair gave it their all in the decider. Matching blow for blow, the two players engaged each other in a neck to neck run as they kept the score tied for ten games. It was only in the eleventh game that
the Dane caught a lucky break as she broke her opponent to lead the set 6-5. Losing no points in the last game, Wozniacki served out the set comfortably to clinch a 7-5 win, ensuring her survival at the event.
Wozniacki now moves on ahead to play Australian Jarmila Gajdosova in the second round. The Aussie moved on ahead in the event after destroying Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-0.
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