Eva Birnerova survives early scare against Lucie Hradecka in first round – Budapest Grand Prix 2011
In an all Czech duel, Eva Birnerova stunned her fourth seeded compatriot, Lucie Hradecka in a three set thriller at POLI-FARBE Budapest Grand Prix, a clay court tournament held in Hungary. She made an epic comeback to register
a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over her countrywoman to advance into the second round on Tuesday.
World number 127, Birnerova upset world number 42, Hradecka after hitting back from a set down to win in three sets in their fourth meeting. After earning this victory in two hours and five minutes, Birnerova not only took revenge
for her loss at Mestre last year but also levelled the head-to-head series by 2-2 against Hradecka.
Prague native, Hradecka made quick in-roads to win the first set after breaking Birnerova’s serve for the second time in the sixth game. She then kept her remaining serves to bag the opener with a 6-3 win. The higher ranked Czech
saved two out of three breakpoints conceded and converted two out of six breakpoint opportunities to her advantage. Regardless of clobbering a poor first serve share of 49 percent, she registered a spectacular 71 percent win on it to help win comfortably.
The Plzen resident, Birnerova exchanged an early break and levelled throughout the set till 4-4. She then broke her age fellow’s serve again in the end to seal the equaliser with a 6-4 victory. The Czech committed several unforced
errors and five double faults. She, however, produced a much better first serve share of 62 percent as compared to Hradecka’s 32 percent and earned a plausible 76 percent win on it.
26-year-old Birnerova carried her winning ways in the final set and after her compatriot held her serve in the fourth game, she went into savage mode and reeled off next four games in a row to pocket the decider with a 6-2 score
line. Birnerova outshined her rival in every department of tennis in this set and registered great stats.
Up next for the lower ranked Czech is the winner of the match between Spanish qualifier Estrella Cabeza Candela and Italian Corinna Dentoni.
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