Elena Vesnina defeats Laura Pous-Tio in the opening round – Wimbledon Championships 2011
World number 36 Elena Vesnina of Russia moved into the second round of 2011 Wimbledon Championships when she defeated Laura Pous-Tio of Spain in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
In a brutal first set of punch and counterpunch, Vesnina had the edge, with resilient defence and a more reliable first serve that enable the Russian to dictate the rallies. But, with Pous-Tio also holding with relative comfort,
a tie-breaker looked inevitable. However, at 4-5, the Russian had the better of an epic, and when Pous-Tio drifted a forehand long, and the set fell to the Russian.
Vesnina wrapped up the first set with seventeen winners while committing a whopping 23 unforced errors. She struck 55 percent on her first serve, winning 57 percent behind her first serve and a meagre 37 behind her second serve
respectively. The 24-year-old Russian converted 100 percent of break point en route to the second set.
The Russian's groundstrokes and searing pace were crushing her Spaniard opponent, and as the Russian broke to go 2-0 in the second set, it was clear that World number 90 needed a change of game plan badly.
But the Russian had been fitter, faster and better throughout the second set, returning Pous-Tio’s best efforts with interest. Although Pous-Tio broke immediately at the middle of the second set, the Russian’s wheels continued
to turn relentlessly and there was a little sign of change in tactics by the Spaniard, when some more aggressive shots into the court might at least have given Vesnina something to think about.
However, Pous-Tio’s good work was undone by some scintillating all-court play by the world number 36, who showed some gutsiness to clinch the second set, six games to three.
With this win, the Russian ace has improved her year-to-date win-loss mark to 17-14 matches and now marches on into the second round of the tournament. Vesnina will have to wait to know her second round opponent as the dispute
between the third-seeded Vera Zvonareva and Alison Riske of America is negotiated.
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