Hlavackova/Hradecka trounce Begu/Niculescu to capture title – BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open 2012
Top seeded Czechs, Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, tumbled the Romanian duo, Irina-Camelia Begu and Monica Niculescu, in straight sets at the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open 2012 on Sunday. They nudged up a 6-3, 6-4 victory against the second seeds
to capture the crown at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International event held in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.
The Czech tandem displayed perfect co-operation to overpower Begu and Niculescu in their first encounter. After notching this victory in one hour and 10 minutes, Hlavackova and Hradecka grabbed the title and gained confidence boost.
Hlavackova and Hradecka made a powerful entry at this indoor hard court event. They drew the first blood in the fourth game and jumped to a 4-1 lead. Apart from losing their edge in the seventh game, the Czechs got the breakthrough in the very next game
and clicked the opener with a 6-3 score line. They amazingly warded off seven out of eight breakpoints they faced and cashed both break chances to dominate.
The in-form Czech junction maintained consistency in their game in the proceeding set. They got the critical break early in the game and jumped to a 3-1 lead. Regardless of losing their edge afterwards and levelling the scores in the sixth game, Hlavackova
and Hradecka broke their opponents’ serve once again and eventually sealed the set by winning six games to four. They failed to ward off the only breakpoint they faced but converted two out of four break chances to their advantage.
Summing up the high seeds’ performance, Hlavackova and Hradecka smashed four aces and nudged up a higher first serve share of 66 per cent as compared to their rivals’ 60 per cent. They also impressively clicked 27 out of 35 points on it and sealed the deal
with 58 points.
The Czechs started their campaign against Eva Birnerova and Catalina Castano. They smoothly carved out a 6-4, 6-2 victory and progressed into the final eight. Hlavackova and Hradecka made an epic comeback in the quarters and eventually overpowered the Spanish
veterans, Lara Arruabarrena Vencino and Lourdes Dominguez Lino.
Hlavackova and Hradecka maintained consistency in their game in the semis. They recorded a 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory against the American-German pair, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Andrea Petkovic, and secured a spot in the final showdown.
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