Grandin/ Uhlirova run over Birnerova/ Daniilidou in quarterfinal - Hansol Korea Open 2011
Top seeded team of Natalie Grandin with Vladimira Uhlirova moved into the semi-final round of the 2011 Hansol Korea Open after disposing away with the unseeded team of Eva Birnerova with Eleni Daniilidou in the round of eight.
After one hour and forty minutes, the number one seeded South African (Grandin) and Czech (Uhlirova) bounced back from a set down to acquire a 7-6(6), 3-6, 10-7 victory.
Grandin/ Uhlirova won the pitch and served first in the opening round. The score progressed on even terms as Birnerova/ Daniilidou chased closely to match a blow-for-blow. The players had won consecutively on their serves in the
following eight games to round off the score at 4-4. The players then broke each other back to back and pushed the set into a tie breaker.
Breaking their opponents early in the tiebreaker, Grandin and Uhlirova rushed to a 3-0 lead. However, the resilient Greek Czech pair broke back immediately to bring the score to three points each. From there on the score shifted
on even terms with neither team letting up. After twelve hard fought points, the top seeded double specialists kicked into top gear as they reeled off two straight points with excellent cross court shots to clinch the tiebreaker, 8-6 going one up in the set
score.
Opening the second set of the match was Daniilidou/ Birnerova. However, the teams were again trailing behind each other with neither one allowing the other to take a competitive edge. The head-to-head run in the first six games
rounded the score at 3-3.
The Greek/ Czech pair held serve in the seventh game and in the eighth broke their opponents to take a lead of 5-3. They then served for the second set in the ninth game and were able to conquer their first set victory by smashing
a few winners.
By the end of the second set the players had bagged a set each and were now moving into a super tie breaker. After opening the decisive set the players again won on their respective serves on the first four points and tied the
score at 2-2. They then broke each other back-to-back for the following seven points to balance the score at 7-7. During the remaining last four games, Grandin/ Uhlirova broke their opponents twice to reel off a 10-7 score.
Although, the top seeded team had faced a lot of competition, they managed to keep their cool under pressure and were able to secure a place in the semi final of the event.
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