Daniela Hantuchova bounces over Vania King to reach the quarters – Brisbane International 2012
Slovak Daniela Hantuchova hit back to overpower the American qualifier, Vania King, at the Brisbane International 2012, an Australian Open build-up tournament taking place in Brisbane, Australia. The Slovak manipulated a 4-6, 6-2,
6-3 success over the world number 75 to advance into quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Hantuchova, ranked 24th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, made a drastic start but founded her rhythm in the second set, eventually triumphing over the qualifier in two hours and thirteen minutes.
She not only booked a final eight spot but also extended lead by 6-0 in the head-to-head series against King.
The high spirited American quickly made on-roads after getting the coveted break in the third game. She broke Hantuchova’s serve again in the seventh game and extended her lead to 5-2. Despite losing her serve in the following
game, she kept remaining serves and clinched the opener with a 6-4 score line.
Hantuchova utilised her years of experience and bounced back in the second set. She drew the first blood in the fourth game and eventually went 4-1 up. Later, the Slovak held remaining serves and broke King’s serve again in the
last game, bagging the equaliser by winning six games to two.
The 28-year-old Slovak lost her ways again in the final set and gifted away her serve in the opening game. However, she recovered in the very next game and squared the scores at 1-1. Hantuchova then maintained consistency in her
game and plucked remaining serves. She converted another break opportunity to her advantage in the eighth game and sealed the decider with a 6-3 win.
Hantuchova committed more double faults but smashed three aces to cover it up. She also won 21 points on her serves and 13 points on her returns.
Next up for the Slovak is the winner of the match between fourth seed Serena Williams and Serb Bojana Jovanovski. A former world number one, Williams, played her first match since the US Open final in September and showed her class
by dumping South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers.
Second seeded German, Andrea Petkovic will accompany the Slovakian starlet in the last eight. She crushed Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova with a bagel to reach this spot. Petkovic dusted away two out of three breakpoints she encountered
and capitalised on four out of eleven break chances to her advantage, sealing the deal with a 7-6(2), 6-0 score line in an hour and 48 minutes long marathon.
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