Francesca Stephenson, Victoria Duval qualify for the Girls’ semis – AEGON International 2011
Francesca Stephenson beats Grace Min 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4
Great Britain’s Francesca Stephenson battled past Grace Min of USA in three sets 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of Girls’ singles event at the AEGON International in Eastbourne on Friday. It took the Brit two hours and 42
minutes to overpower her opponent in a marathon match.
Stephenson and Min exchanged a single break of serve in the first twelve games of the opening set to square off the score at 6-6, taking the set to a tie-break. Min captured three mini-breaks in the tie-break, bagging it 7-3. The
American kept her first serve percentage at 69 percent, winning 65 percent of the points on them in the first set. Min converted the only break point she received and saved five of the six break points she faced in the opening set.
The second set again saw tough competition as both players broke each other twice in the first ten games, equalising the score at 5-5. Stephenson claimed the decisive break in the eleventh game and served out the set at 6-5. The
British was lucky to win despite committing five double faults in the second set. Stephenson hit a single ace and 60 percent of the first deliveries, claiming 62 percent of the points on them in the second set.
The British broke Min in the ninth game of the deciding set and served out the set in the next game, claiming it 6-4.
Stephenson is slated to face Madison Keys of USA in the semi-finals. The American beat Lucy Brown in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.
Victoria Duval defeats Katy Dunne 6-3, 6-1
Victoria Duval of USA thrashed British Katy Dunne in straight sets to reach the semi-finals. The American lost just four games in the entire match, beating her opponent 6-3, 6-1 in just 53 minutes.
Duval broke the British in the ninth game of the first set to clinch it 6-3.
The American served well as she delivered a whopping 87 percent of the first serves, claiming 65 percent of the points on them in the opening set. Duval capitalised on three of the five break point opportunities she created on
Dunne’s serve and failed to save the only break points she faced on her own serve in the first set.
After winning an evenly contested opening set, Duval crushed her opponent as she dropped only one game, breaking the British thrice to win the second set 6-1.
The American was able to hit an incredible 84 percent of the first serves, converting 57 percent of them into points in the second set. Duval sealed 60 percent of the first return points in the second set.
The American is drawn to play American Krista Hardebeck in the semi-finals.
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