Hantuchova/ Radwanska flabbergast Errani/ Vinci in quarterfinal – US Open 2011
Opening the quarter final match of the US Open doubles event was number fifteen seeded Sara Errani with Roberta Vinci against Slovak Daniela Hantuchova besides Pole Agnieszka Radwanska. The two teams duelled on the Grandstand of
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. The un-seeded mix won the match in straight sets of 6-3, 7-6(3).
Hantuchova/ Radwanska were first to open the set, and in the first three games both the players won on their alternate serves. In the fourth game the Slovak and Pole mix broke the Italian pair to take the lead at 3-1. However,
the Italian couple broke back in the fifth game and the two broke each other again in the following two games. In the eighth game Hantuchova and Radwanska again broke the Italian duo and then went on to hold their serve in the ninth game to an en-route victory.
Hitting twelve forehand winners and by accomplishing 9 more points than the 15th seeded team, the Slovak and Pole won the set with a 6-3 victory.
The second set was opened by the Italian squad and both the teams won on their respective serves in the first two games. In the third game Hantuchova/ Radwanska broke their opponents but the Italian pair broke back in the fourth
game. The players again broke each other once two even out the score in the sixth game at 3-3. Again breaking back-to-back the two levelled the score at 4-4 in the eighth game. Eventually in the last four games the squads kept on winning on their serves till
they reached a tie breaker.
Having picked up steam in the second set, Errani and Vinci continued to match the Slovak Pole tandem in the tiebreaker. Going toe-to-toe, both teams crawled ahead at a snail’s pace with neither allowing the other any leeway. Keeping
the score tied for the first six points, Hantuchova and Radwanska finally kicked into top gear as they capitalised on a mini-break to take the lead. Reeling off four straight points with two breaks of serves, the Slovak Pole duo clinched the tiebreaker 7-3
and sealed their straight sets victory.
Hantuchova/ Radwanska upset the number 15 seeded Vinci/ Errani by smashing 15 winners to qualify into the semi final of the US Open 2011, where they will be facing the number four seeded American team of Liezel Huber with Lisa
Raymond.
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