Erika Sema runs past Rika Fujiwara into main draw – HP Japan Open 2011
Top seed Erika Sema outclassed fifth seeded Rika Fujiwara in one hour and fifty one minutes to secure a straight set victory of 6-3, 6-4 in the final qualifying round of the HP Japan Open 2011. The two had battled on outdoor hard
courts of the Utsubo Tennis Center in Osaka, Japan on Monday the 10th of October 2011.
Inaugurating the first round of the event was Fujiwara, who had won the service toss and got off to a horrendous start as she was not able to win on her serve. While, Sema capitalized on an early break and then held her serve in
the second game to take a mini lead of 2-0. She repeated the feat and further increased the gap to 4-0 and then 5-0 as she held serve in the fifth game, it seemed she would clog a bagel set victory.
However, Fujiwara finally broke back in the sixth game to bag a game and as she held serve, she reduced the deficit to 5-2 and then 5-3 as she broke Fujiwara for the last time. It was unfortunate for Fujiwara but extremely fortunate
for Sema as she too broke back in the last game to secure a 6-3 victory of the opening set.
The second set was initiated by Sema, who not only won on her service game but also broke her adversary to take a mini lead of 2-0. She again repeated the feat and was leading with a 4-0 by the end of the fourth game. In the following
two games the players held serve but Sema was now only a game away from victory.
Although, Fujiwara tried her level best to reduce the deficit by utilizing the break-serve-break method, she was still unable to close the deficit completely and by the end of the ninth game the scoreboard had rotated to 5-4 with
Sema leading. Sema broke Fujiwara by combating a few deuces and smashing a splendid backhand winner down the line in the tenth game. In doing so, she bagged the set and the match.
The top seeded Japanese secured a spot in the main draw of the event where she will play Luxembourger Mandy Minella.
Tags: