Gisela Dulko reaches the semis, Greta Arn loses: Abierto Meicano Telcel Tennis Championships 2011
Argentinean star Gisela Dulko continues her heroic run at the ongoing Abierto Mexicano Telcel Tennis Championships 2011, a WTA event held annually in Acapulco, Mexico.
Fourth seeded Dulko achieved a quarterfinal win against Spaniard Laura Pous-Tio to make a place in the last four on Thursday at the US$ 220,000 Mexican Open. The Argentinean struggled a bit in the first set, reacting sluggishly
for her opponent’s forehands and backhands. She then committed a fair number of unforced errors as well. However, in the second set she regrouped herself and showed great fighting spirit. Dulko took the second set 7-5 after clinching a very crucial serve break.
In the decider, the momentum shifted completely towards the Australian Open Doubles Champion, as she made quick work 6- 0 of her opponent to complete an impressive 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 on the clay courts at The Fairmont Acapulco Princess.
Contrastingly, Spanish Pous-Tio who led the contest early on was unable to earn points when it counted the most. World number 85 was presented with opportunities on a number of occasions but she faltered under pressure and gifted
free points to Dulko instead.
Dulko had defeated Pous-Tio in their previous clash at the 2007 Abierto Mexicano Championships as well and continued her winning streak. She now leads the head-to-head stats by 2-0.
World number 76 Dulko has enjoyed great form over the last week and on her way to the semifinals she has dropped only a set. She now look set to take on another Spaniard, Anabel Medina Garrigues in the semifinal, who eased past
the seventh seeded Carla Suarez Navarro after the Spaniard retired while trailing 6-2, 2-2.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Greta Arn lost to the Swede Johanna Larsson in a three set quarterfinal. Larsson broke the serve twice to take the first set 6-1. Arn fought back instantly 4-6 in the second set to level the score 1-1. In the
decider, however Arn was unable to hit the targets with her forehand and backhand as she was defeated comfortably in the end 6-1, 4-6 and 6-2., Arn who won second WTA title of her career in Auckland earlier this year, was seeded third in this tournament. She
expressed her disappointment for not making it to the second WTA final of the season in a post match interview.
On the other hand, Larsson who has not gone past the first round of any WTA tournament since the start of this season will be feeling very confident ahead of her match against Arantxa Parra Santonja. Santonja knocked out Lourdes
Dominguez Lino in a tight three set match, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach semis.
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