Grandin/ Uhlirova oust Birnerova/ Zakopalova in first round – Kremlin Cup 2011
The third seeded team of Natalie Grandin with Vladimira Uhlirova got rid of the Czech duo of Eva Birnerova with Klara Zakopalova in the doubles opening round of the Kremlin Cup 2011. The two squads battled swords on the indoor
hard courts of Olympic Stadium in Moscow and after just sixty one minutes the South African Grandin with Czech Uhlirova overpowered the Czech pair in straight sets of 6-3, 6-3, on Monday the 17th of October 2011.
Subsequently, after winning the toss the first round of the match was initiated by the third seed Grandin/ Uhlirova and they successfully held their serve to open the scoreboard at 1-0. Trailing behind them were the Czech couple
and they too successfully placed themselves beside their adversaries at 1-1 on the scoreboard.
During the next two games the crews once more bagged a game each on their respective serves and the score had tied at 2-2 and then 3-3 as they held serves. However, in the seventh game the third seeded duo had tactfully bagged
a game and in the eighth game they forced an error from their adversaries. Thus, by the end of the eighth game they had taken the lead at 5-3 and were now only a game away from victory. As they served for the opening set, they smashed a wonderful crosscourt
shot and bagged the opening game with a 6-3 victory.
The second round of the match was commenced by Birnerova/ Zakopalova and they lost control in the first game by double faulting on their second serve. However, they were quick to make amends as they broke back immediately in the
following game and tied the score at 1-1 on the scoreboard. They took the lead when Birnerova/ Zakopalova erred in the third game and as they held serve in the fourth the scoreboard had progressed at 3-1.
The crews then matched a blow for a blow and they constantly bagged a game on their respective service games for the following four games. By the end of the eighth game the scoreboard had shifted to 5-3 with the third seeded South
African/ Czech leading the game. They were now only a game away from victory and as Birnerova and Zakopalova served for the ninth game, they smashed a long crosscourt. In doing so; they ended up endorsing the match point to the third seeded team, who not only
accomplished the set but also the match.
Next up for the South African/ Czech pair are either Vera Dushevina with Mariya Koryttseva or Polona Hercog with Ksenia Pervak.
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