Estrella Cabeza-Candela ousts Margalita Chakhnashvili in 2nd qualifier – Barcelona Ladies Open 2012
Spaniard fourth seed starlet, Estrella Cabeza-Candela, was forced to work hard to book a spot in the final of the Barcelona Ladies Open on Sunday. The 29-years-old Georgian, Margalita Chakhnashvili, resisted for two hours and 22
minutes before losing an epic three-setter ending in favour of the Spaniard 6-3, 6(1)-7, 6-2.
Both players traded a couple of breakpoints at the beginning of the encounter before seeing off the following to serve games. The local was the first to win another breakpoint; consolidated it with a thumping serve hold that pushed
the scores to 5-3.
Georgian visitor failed to win a single point in the final game of the opening set and gifted another breakthrough that sealed the opening set proceedings. Total points played were 61 and the visitor could only grab 26 off them;
lost with a gap of nine points.
Candela felt victim to the first breakpoint of the second set but fought immediately in the following game to level the scores at 1-1. Several swap of breakthroughs kept the scores together at 5-5. In the end it was a tie-breaker
round that was enforced to achieve an outcome of the set.
With immense experience under her belt, the 29-years-old Georgian won an early mini-break that assisted her in registering a tight set win against the Spaniard. It opened up the match for both players and no one could write-off
the chances of an upset after such an enthralling fight back from the 186th ranked Georgian.
However, the final set was completely one-sided. The Spaniard delighted the crowd with her swinging forehand and backhand that were almost unplayable. She started off well winning three breakpoints on the trot and registering a
couple of serve holds to build a resounding lead of 4-1.
Both players registered serve holds in the following two games. Candela prepared to serve the final game of the match with her competitor in a ‘must win’ situation to keep the match alive. Chakhnashvili tried hard and opened up
the game with an opportunity to break serve but squandered a brilliant opening that led to her downfall.
She lost the match but not before making it very difficult for the fourth seed Spaniard to confirm a shot at the qualification for the main round of the tournament. Candela will take on the likes of Laura Thorpe in the final qualifying
round. Thorpe, representing France, has already squashed the fifth seed Russian, Anastasia Pivovarova, on her way to the final qualifying battle. So, an upset is on the cards.
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