Jelena Dokic, Johanna Larsson successful in the first round – UNICEF Open 2011
Former world number four Jelena Dokic secured a comfortable 6-0, 6-4 victory over Russian Alla Kudryavtseva on Tuesday to advance into the second round of 2011 UNICEF Open here in Hertogenbosch.
The Australian tennis-pro made an aggressive start to the match. Coming close to the net every now and then, she executed her clever drop shots brilliantly to earn vital points. Breaking the serve at regular intervals in the opening
set, the 28-year-old did not allow her opponent to breath. Smashing a big forehand winner down the line, she set up set two match points for her and then converted the first one to take the set score lead 1-0.
Kudryavtseva put up a better fight in the second set as she managed to break the serve once. However looking to wrap up the match in straight sets, Dokic broke the challenger twice again to earn an impassable lead in the set. Serving
big, she hit her seventh serve ace to complete her victory in a match that lasted for only one hour and two minutes.
Despite achieving only 46 percent on her first serve in the match, Dokic managed to win 65 percent of the points on her serve. Making the most of her Kudryavtseva’s weak serve, she clinched 54 percent of the points in the serve
return department to establish firm control over the game. Winner of six Women’s Tennis Association titles, Dokic converted five out of ten break points in the match, which of course played a big part in deciding the outcome of the match.
The Russian looked a bit out of sorts and leaked a number of unforced errors in the process. Making six costly double faults in the match, she created problems for herself. She will be hoping for a strong come back on her next
WTA appearance.
Swede Johanna Larsson also made it to the second round of US $ 220,000 tournament with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Canadian sensation Rebecca Marino.
Upsetting former world number one Ana Ivanovic in the first round of Roland Garros, Larsson has been in decent form over the last few weeks. Making a solid start to the match, she took the crucial game score lead to dent her opponent
confidence levels. Breaking the serve twice in the opening set, she drew the first blood.
Marino fought well but she lacked the firepower in certain areas of the game. Larsson continued to pressurise her with some high quality tennis and converted the very first match point to seal victory.
Her next round match-up will be against Belgian Kirsten Flipkens who ousted number eight seed Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 6-2.
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