Gisela Dulko prevails as last year’s runner up Samantha Stosur exits – 2011 French Open
Gisela Dulko stunned last year’s runner up and number eight seed Samantha Stosur 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to book her place in the fourth round of 2011 French Open in Paris. The Australian began terribly as Dulko dominated a very one sided
first set.
Despite a strong fight back in the second set by Stosur, Dulko was able to produce her best tennis in the decider as she broke the serve twice to end Australian Hopes.
Ranked 51st in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings, Dulko made an emphatic start to the match. She looked on top of her game and created all sorts of problems for the challenger from the baseline. Dashing her big
forehand and backhand winners at will, she made Stosur’s strategy look completely ineffective.
The Argentine dropped only four games to claim the opener 6-4, going one up in the set score. Stosur, on the other hand, displayed error-riddled tennis in very cool conditions and gifted points to her opponent. She managed to win
only 38 per cent of the points on her weak second serve in the set thus allowing Dulko to dictate terms. Although the Queenslander saved three set points in a row, she smashed another easy forehand shot outside the lines to let Dulko clinch the set 6-4.
Stosur regrouped herself and looked in more control of her game in the second set. Breaking Dulko at regular intervals, she managed to even the set score with a ferocious serve ace that confounded the South American.
In an attempt to reach the fourth round of Roland Garros for the second time in her career, Dulko took her first serve game of the final set without much fuss. However, a break of serve and a successful conversion of a service
game gave Stosur slight edge in the match, leading the score by 2-1. Dulko concentrated on her own game play and a broke back twice to race to 5-2 lead in the set. She then held on to her next serve game to ensure her place in the third round of the prestigious
Grand Slam tournament.
The 2011 Mexican Open Champion, Dulko was extremely delighted at her victory whereas the Australian showed her frustration by banging the racquet on her thigh.
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