Elena Vesnina advances at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami
World number 56 Russian Elena Vesnina edged past world number 47 Argentinean Gisela Dulko in straight sets. She earned a 6-1, 6-3 victory over the Argentinean to advance to the second round at the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Russian displayed her splendid performance in this match and was repaid with a breadstick. Although she hasn’t shown much progress this season and was ousted in the first rounds at the Australian Open, Paris, Dubai
and Indian Wells but in this WTA Premier event she destroyed the Argentinean by straight sets.
Vesnina was charged up in the opening set as she broke the Argentinean’s serve in the very first game. The fired-up Russian then won the next three games and extended her lead to 4-0. Later Dulko finally penetrated through the
Russian’s defences as she held her serve and put herself on score board. In spite of diverting some concentration back in the game, she couldn’t make much impact as Vesnina held her serve in the proceeding game. Vesnina then broke the Argentinean’s serve in
the follow-up game to win the set with a 6-1 score line.
In the second set, Dulko re-focused and as a result both players played in their best form. Both had a similar first serve share of 76 percent in this final set and held their serves amazingly in the first four games. In later
games, the Argentinean held her serve once more, while Vesnina played exceptionally well to clinch a 6-3 win. She saved the only breakpoint and converted the only opportunity to her advantage which helped her win the set.
The 26-year-old Dulko has showed fascinating performances in the previous WTA Premier events she participated this season. She overwhelmed 6th seeded Spaniard Arantxa Parra Santonja in straight sets to win the title
at Acapulco. The Argentinean then made a semi-final berth at Monterrey where she was ousted by 2nd seeded Russian wild card Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Despite her extra-ordinary performances in the previous events, she just couldn’t clinch here at
Miami and was trashed out from the tournament in the first round.
Vesnina has taken a lead in their head to head series by 2-1 after dumping the Argentinean in this match.
The Russian will next face 23rd seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer she reached this spot after having a bye into the second round for being a seeded player. Vesnina’s head to head series is levelled by 1-1 against the Belgian
and it would be a worthwhile duel to watch.
World number 20, Wickmayer is in her top form this season as she reached the final at Auckland before losing to Hungarian Greta Arn earlier this season. She also made a semi-final berth at Indian Wells before entering this event.
The Belgian lost to 15th seeded French Marion Bartoli at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
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