Erakovic/Vesnina stomp over Goerges/Groenefeld to shelf title win – Generali Ladies Linz 2011
Fourth seeds, Australian Marian Erakovic and Russian Elena Vesnina, blasted past Germans, Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld, with a breadstick at the Generali Ladies Linz 2011, a WTA International Tour taking place on the
indoor hard courts in Linz, Austria. They registered a 7-5, 6-1 score line over the Germans to triumph the title on Sunday.
The seeded combo of Erakovic and Vesnina clicked in the Intersport Arena as they lost one set throughout the match and eventually bagged the title in an hour and fourteen minutes long finale with the unseeded Germans.
The seeds made a terrible entry on the Austrian courts as they gifted away their serve in the opening game of the first set. However, after they were 3-1 down, Erakovic and Vesnina improved their games to wipe out next four games
in a row before losing their serve again in the ninth game. Later, they kept their serves through exquisite angled shots and broke their rivals’ serve again in the last game to seal the opener by winning seven games to five.
The Australian Russian tandem carried their momentum from the opening set into the second set and held their serve in the first game. After their opponents’ kept their opening serve, they unleashed flurry of backhand slices and
forehands to reel off following five games in a row to earn a breadstick.
Overall, the Aussie Russian duo clobbered a lower first serve share of 71 percent as compared to Goerges and Groenefeld’s 78 percent and registered an impressive 61 percent win on it. In addition to this, they warded off eight
out of ten breakpoints encountered and cashed in on five out of fifteen breakpoint opportunities to their advantage to triumph comfortably.
"This is the first tournament we've played together and I think it's going well," Erakovic told after playing her quarter-final match.
The Russian on the other side enjoyed playing doubles rather than singles matches.
"I've always liked playing doubles - I've played it since I was a junior," Vesnina said. "As Marina said, it's a different game, much faster and different strategy. It's not only good to practice your serves and volleys but also
your returns.”
"I really enjoy playing with Marina," the delighted Russian added about her partnership earlier in the tournament. "She's an easy going person. I've known her for many years and she's a little sweet kiddie!"
With Vesnina’s doubles partner, Sania Mirza of India being ruled out of tennis due to a ruptured knee, she is hoping to play another tournament with Erakovic.
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