Chanelle Scheepers trounces Anastasia Rodionova in round one – Fes WTA 2012
South African number one, Chanelle Scheepers, stomped over the Australian contender, Anastasia Rodionova, in straight sets at the Grand Prix De SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem 2012 on Monday. She penned down a 6-4, 6-4 victory against the world number 93 to
charge into the round of 16 at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) clay court event held in Fes, Morocco.
The sixth seed got the better of Rodionova after capitalising on five out of nine break opportunities. After earning the fame in this one hour and 40-minute battle, Scheepers not only avenged her defeat at the Albuquerque WTA event seven years ago but also
levelled the head-to-head series by 1-1 against the Russian-born Rodionova.
Scheepers enthusiastically entered the Royal Tennis Club de Fes and drew the first blood in the third game to put her nose ahead for the first time in this match. She squandered her edge in the very next game but broke Rodionova’s serve again to jump to
a 4-2 lead. Despite squaring the scores at 4-4, the South African cashed in another break chance in the ninth game and clinched the opener with a 6-4 score line.
The 28-year-old stormed into the second set and wiped out the opening four games successively before the Aussie could hold on. She maintained consistency in his game and apart from losing her serve in the eighth game, Scheepers held her serve once more bagging
the set with a 6-4 win.
Overall, the South African took full advantage of the seven double faults Australian committed. She also manipulated a better first serve share of 60 per cent as opposed to Rodionova’s 54 per cent and amazingly availed 24 out of 39 points on it.
Next in queue for Scheepers is the conqueror of the match between Polish contestant Urszula Radwanska and the Dutch qualifier, Kiki Bertens.
The top seed, Anabel Medina Garrigues, also stole the show later that day. She summed up a 6-2, 6-4 success against the Russian contestant, Nina Bratchikova, in one hour and 23 minutes. The Spanish number one lost her serve once but capitalised on four out
of 10 break opportunities to advance.
Tags: