Jamie Hampton slays Audrey Bergot in opening qualifier – Internationaux de Strasbourg 2012
Qualifying fourth seed, Jamie Hampton, devastated the local challenger, Audrey Bergot, with a breadstick at the qualifying competition of Internationaux de Strasbourg 2012 on Sunday. She jolted down a 6-1, 6-2 score line against the French to secure a place
in the second qualifying round at this outdoor clay court event held in Strasbourg, France.
The American rising star got the better of Bergot in less than an hour-long marathon. Facing each other for the first time, Hampton swiftly swiped in her entire serves and capitalised on four out of six break chances to earn the limelight.
Hampton assertively entered the French clay courts and held her opening serve to take the initial lead. After Bergot held her serve in the second game, the American unleashed her skills and went on a five-game tear, eventually pocketing the set with a breadstick.
She fended off both breakpoints she faced and capitalised on two out of three break chances to inch towards the glory.
Ranked 87th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Hampton kept momentum rolling into the follow-up set and earned the critical break in the opening game to jump to a 2-0 lead. She smoothly plucked her remaining serves and cashed in another break chance
in the seventh game, eventually sealing the set by winning six games to two. The American was never challenged with any breakpoint and converted two out of three break opportunities to her advantage.
Overall, the American produced a better first serve share of 60 per cent as compared to her rival’s 49 per cent but impressively clicked 25 out of 28 points on it. She also fired six vicious aces and finished the match with 60 points.
Next up for Hampton is the Slovakian star, Lenka Jurikova, who trashed Italy’s Anna Floris in straight sets to set-up this meeting.
The qualifying top seed, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, also stole the show later that day. She failed to block the lone breakpoint she came across but tremendously capitalised on four out of 11 break chances, ultimately registering a 6-3, 6-3 success in one
hour and 39 minutes. The Spaniard formulated a better first serve share of 67 per cent as compared to her rival’s 59 per cent and amazingly clicked 28 out of 38 points on it.
Next up for the top seed is the Croatian star, Mirjana Lucic, who overpowered the local wildcard entrant, Myrtille Georges, in a three-set nail-biter to set-up this battle.
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