Greta Arn cripples Shuai Zhang in the opening round – Whirlpool Monterrey Open 2012
Sixth seeded Greta Arn blasted past the Chinese rising star, Shuai Zhang, with a breadstick at the Whirlpool Abierto Monterrey 2012 on Tuesday. She jolted down a 6-1, 6-4 victory over the 23-year-old to secure a place in the round of 16 at this hard court
tournament taking place in Monterrey, Mexico.
Encountering each other for the second time, Arn not only avenged her loss at the Western and Southern Financial Group Women’s Open in Cincinnati last year but also levelled the head-to-head series by 1-1 against the Chinese. The Hungarian outclassed her
rival in 72-minutes despite clobbering a lower first serve share and committing seven double faults at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International event.
World number 68, Arn, stormed into the opening set and hammered massive forehands from her arsenal of skills to go on a five games rampage before the Chinese could hold on. She then held her serve once more and pocketed the opener with an exceptional 6-1
success.
The 32-year-old kept momentum running into the proceeding set and earned the critical break in the opening game. She then broke Zhang’s serve for a second time in the fifth game and went 5-1 up. In spite of losing her serve in the following game and exchanging
a serve break, Arn held her serve in the last game and clinched the set with a 6-4 score line.
Next up for the sixth seed is the Croatian qualifier, Maria Abramovic, who dumped Russia’s Alexandra Panova in straight sets to occupy this spot. The Croat lost her serve four times but capitalised on six out of 10 break chances to seal the match with a
7-5, 6-4 success. The 24-year-old coughed more errors but covered it up by producing a higher first serve share.
Earlier that day, Arn’s compatriot, Timea Babos, faced a similar fate. She thrashed the local wild card entrant, Ximena Hermoso, in straight sets in 67-minutes to advance into the second round.
After losing her serve once, the 18-year-old converted three out of four break opportunities to her advantage and pocketed the opener by winning six games to two.
In the follow-up set, the teenager smoothly plucked in entire serves without facing any hindrance. She then capitalised on one out of three break chances to pull out the set with a 6-3 victory.
Next challenge for the Hungarian is the third seeded Sorana Cirstea or the Swiss competitor, Stefanie Vogele.
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