Daniela Hantuchova slashes Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in 2nd round – Mercury Insurance Open 2011
Eight seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova eased past Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova with a breadstick at the Mercury Insurance Open 2011, a WTA event held at the La Costa Resort and Spa in San Diego, California, United States. She
registered a 6-1, 6-3 success over the 25-year-old Czech to advance into the third round on Thursday.
World number 22 Hantuchova displayed awe-inspiring skills to crush the Czech, ranked 50 places below her, in just sixty-seven minutes in their second meeting at Carlsbad. After earning this victory, she took revenge for her loss
at Wimbledon last year and levelled the scores in the head-to-head series by 1-1 against Strycova.
28-year-old Slovak unleashed powerful strokes to reel off first three games in a row before the Czech could hold on. She maintained her high spirit afterwards to win the last three games consecutively and bagged a breadstick.
The Slovak lost her ways in the final set as she gifted away her opening serve to trail 0-3. However, she bounced back with a bang as she reeled off next six games in a row to clinch the set with a 6-3 win.
Overall, a former world number five, Hantuchova re-created her 2003 magic to pull out an easy victory. She smacked five aces and regardless of producing a lower first serve share of 55 percent as compared to Czech’s 69 percent,
the Slovak registered a spectacular 86 percent win on it.
Hantuchova tweeted after the match, “Hi everyone! I was happy to win today, considering last time I played her I lost... I tried to be aggressive the whole match... It's always great playing at the La Costa Resort & Spa and being
back in this beautiful part of the world!”
The Slovak had some great experience and memories in this event. Last year she made a semi-final berth here. She further tweeted, “I love coming back to California... it always brings back so many great memories. Thanks for all
your support :)”
Up next for the seed is the Chinese Jie Zheng who stunned ninth seeded Italian Roberta Vinci in straight sets to reach this spot.
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