Daniela Hantuchova beats Marina Erakovic in the second round – Wimbledon Championships 2011
World number 23, Daniela Hantuchova eased to victory over New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic to reach the third round of Wimbledon Championships, being played here at All England Tennis Lawn and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London. The
Slovakian was always too strong for the Dutch and cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win, taking a little over one hour and thirteen minutes.
Erakovic, the world number 144, delivered some flashes of intelligence and, after being broken in the fifth game, made a dramatic recovery to level the score at 3-3 before Hantuchova remarkably staggered to a lop-sided victory.
Before gravitating towards a disquieting loss in the opening set, Erakovic looked set to provide a strong challenge for the heavily supported Hantuchova when she broke the Slovakian’s serve to reduce her shortcomings, but the 2011
Pattaya City champion quickly acknowledged her marvellous doings by breaking right back and then dominated the rest of the match on her favourite surface.
Hantuchova, who improved her year-to-date win-loss mark to 29/18, will face the fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus after she beat Iveta Benesova in the second round.
The match between Hantuchova and Azarenka would be a blockbuster for sure, as it would say a lot about contrast in their playing styles, with Azarenka trying to end points early via meaty groundstrokes and impenetrable defence.
Hantuchova, meanwhile, is one of the best returners on tour and will look to extend rallies against her Belarusian opponent.
Grass gives Hantuchova a definite chance to cause an upset, so look for the No.25 seed to wear Azarenka down and advance to the fourth round after three sets.
Also moving on ahead is wildcard entrant from Great Britain, Laura Robson who beat Angelique Kerber of Germany 4-6, 7(7)-6(4), 6-3 in her first round match at the tournament.
The lanky lefty, Robson has two reasons to celebrate, not only she has reached the second round of the tournament for the first time, she has also managed to cut the deficit to 1-1 in their head-to-head series.
With this win, the Brit has improved her year-to-date win/loss mark to 10/7 matches and now marches on into the second round of the tournament. Despite enjoying the home ground advantage, she will face a tricky opponent, and this
messianic figure is none other than Maria Sharapova.
Robson is in midst of by far her best year on tour with 9 WTA match victories, but she will be hard-pressed to recover from such a difficult encounter. Sharapova will likely show no mercy and should cruise ahead in straight sets.
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