Elena Bovina downs Alexandra Cadantu in the second qualifier round – Swedish Open 2011
World number 317, Elena Bovina of Russia outlasted the fourth-seeded Romanian, Alexandra Cadantu 6(4)-7, 6-4, 7-6(4) on Saturday to reach the final qualifying round of Swedish Open 2011 after the longest match of the day.
The fans were captivated as both right-handed players went at each other for 4 hours and seven minutes. After all that, having saved her crucial match point, fourth-seeded Cadantu served a double-fault to give Bovina the victory.
There were no disagreements, no sportsmanship, just voluminous shots, with the momentum shifting on a handful of key points. With so much energy draining out of her, Cadantu would definitely be disappointed that her efforts were
of no avail, losing the match in a three-set marathon.
While Bovina’s fans cheering on her, the fourth-seeded Cadantu found her defense tested to the limit as Bovina ripped a number of winners. Cadantu, on the other hand could not find the tactic that worked.
She was serving at 4-3 in the tie-breaker when Bovina ran off the last critical points and the key shot was a forehand that trickled over the Russian to give her the set point and the Romanian crowd erupted in cheers as Cadantu
won the first set with six games to four.
There was no tie-breaker in the second set, so the win hinged on the ability of either Cadantu or Bovina to break serve. Cadantu saved a single break point in the set before finally faltering. Serving at 4-5 she fell behind 0-40
to set-up match point with her huge serve and blistering volleys, only to throw it off with a double-fault. Bovina quickly wrapped up the second set when her opponent sent down yet another double fault.
The high quality of the tennis kept the fans silent as another tie-breaker loomed in the decider with Cadantu serving at 4-5. However, this time it was Cadantu, who had been looking a little puzzled and less confident than usual,
running off four points in a row.
At deuce, the Romanian sent a forehand wide on the next point, and Bovina pumped her fist in celebration as the decisive tie-breaker quickly went Bovina’s way, with Cadantu looking increasingly drained.
Cadantu’s extra power looked capable of causing an upset throughout yesterday’s match as she served an incredible number of winners during the process. But Bovina made a key breakthrough in the tie-breaker of the third set to finally
secure victory in four hours and seven minutes of play.
Bovina now moves on ahead to face Olivia Rogowska of Australia in the final round of qualifying draw, here at Bastad in Sweden.
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