Christina McHale beat Tsvetana Pironkova in the main draw – Western and Southern Open 2011
Home-girl Christina McHale beat Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova during the main draw of the Western and Southern Open 2011. This was their first meeting on the hard courts of the Lindner Family Tennis Centre in Mason, Ohio. The American,
McHale endured a mid match lapse to conquer a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 victory against her Bulgarian adversary.
The 19-year old McHale had a strong forehand which enabled her to win a praiseworthy 23 out of 33 service points, which were 17% more points than her opponent's, making it a grand 70% win in the total service points.
Amidst the first set, the American allowed the 23-year old Bulgarian (Pironkova) to break her once as she was able to save 2 out of 3 break point opportunities, instead capitalised on 100% of the Bulgarian’s break points. While,
Pironkova was only able to win one break point out of the three on her serve.
McHale also had aced thrice, along with a mediocre return she was able to bag the set by scoring two consecutive points to lead the score 7-5
During the second set the American defence had faltered and she was only able to save only one of the three break points on her serve, however she broke her opponent a 100% .
Mean while, the Bulgarian’s defence was inept as she was unable to save even one break point out of along with benefiting with 67% break points won.
Pironkova made a comeback after her loss in the first set, and she even managed to perfect her accuracy, she won a commendable 62% of her total service points along with mediocre return winning 43% of her total return points, thus
giving a total 52% win to overcome her 19-year-old opponent.
Bulgarian Pironkova pulled up her socks and outperformed her American opponent. There was a relatively greater difference between the return points of both the players with McHale winning a pathetic return of 38% and 57% of her
total service points. She lost the set with a difference of 2 points in the total set score
By the end of the second set both the players had bagged a set each, however Pironkova’s victory was short lived as she fell from cloud nine in her service and return points attaining 42% and a pitiable 8% in the service and return
points respectively.
The set saw a marked difference between McHale’s serve, she had won a walloping 92% of her service points against the Bulgarian, along with winning 58% more points in her total return points, thus winning a total of 67% to outfox
Pironkova.
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