Donna Vekic thumps Eva Birnerova to reach the final – Tashkent Open 2012
A breakthrough run for the 16-year-old Croatian qualifier, Donna Vekic, was kept alive in the semi-final of the Tashkent Open when she trounced the 133rd ranked Czech professional, Eva Birnerova, in a classic three-setter
6-1, 3-6, 6-1. It was a topsy turvy contest with momentum swirling between the two players before ending in favour of the Croatian teenager after a battle of an hour and 34 minutes.
Vekic commented afterwards, “I don't think like a 16-year-old. In tennis one has to grow fast, and I think I have matured fast. I love tennis and want to be playing. I have to get stronger physically and mentally and develop my
game. I hope to first get into the Top 150 and probably play at a Grand Slam tournament in the near future.”
She further added, “I try not to think about rankings too much. If you think about those things too much you may lose focus. All I want is to play well and do well. My aim is to play every match better than the last one.”
In the opening set, the Croatian qualifier took a resounding lead of 5-1, courtesy to a couple of breakpoints on the trot. She was tested severely on her serve in the second game and it looked like the cameo will be over soon but
the comeback was emphatic enough to earn her a resounding triumph in the first set.
The Czech player started the second match with a serve hold and soon won a breakpoint to lead the scores 3-1. However, she could hold the lead for few minutes as the qualifier bounce back to win the breakpoint in the following
game and made it 3-3 with a serve hold.
Birnerova again trounced her rival in the eighth game; winning all four points and registering the second breakthrough of the set. She held her serve after a bit of struggle and enforced the final set into play. Vekic commenced
the final set with a serve hold to love and won a breakpoint in the following game that was crucial to form a strong base for the rest of the proceedings.
A dismal display from the 28-year-old Czech witnessed another breakthrough for the 183rd ranked Croatian. The scores moved on to 5-0 in favour of her and she was about to post a thumping bagel but the Czech restored
some respect in the sixth game.
Donna Vekic plays Irina Camelia-Begu in the final. She has an opportunity to become the youngest woman player ever to win a WTA title.
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