Karin Knapp pounces over Misaki Doi in the qualifiers – Brisbane International 2012
Italian Karin Knapp made an epic comeback from a set down to overpower the Japanese, Misaki Doi, in a three setter mouth watering match at the Brisbane International 2012 on Friday. She registered a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory
over the Japanese to advance into the second round of the qualifiers at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tournament held in Brisbane, Australia.
The 24-year-old Italian took two hours and 18 minutes to shock the Japanese, ranked 120th in the WTA Premier Rankings, in their first meeting. She lost her concentration in the opening set but bounced
back to conquer Doi through her exceptional counter-attacking skills.
The higher ranked Japanese formulated a lower first serve share of 52 percent as opposed to the Italian’s 56 percent but she registered a magnificent 91 percent win on it, eventually bagging the opener with a 6-3 score line.
Doi defended both breakpoints superbly and struck two serve breaks to take the set.
World number 164, Knapp, roared back in the second set, as she went into the overdrive mode and pulled out the victory. She failed to fend off any of the three breakpoints she came across but capitalised on all four break
chances to seal the equaliser by winning seven games to five. The Italian committed several unforced errors and manipulated a lower first serve share but earned an acceptable 62 percent win on it to cover it up.
Knapp pushed the bar of her game in the final set as she swiftly pocketed entire serves without facing any breakpoint. On the other hand, she converted two out of seven break chances to her advantage to pocket the decider
with a 6-2 victory. She manifested an equal first serve share of 57 percent and won 75 percent points on it en route to victory.
Qualifying third seeded Russian, Vera Dushevina, will be awaiting Knapp in the second round of the qualifiers. The Russian trashed a local wild card enterer, Isabella Holland, in straight sets to reach this spot. 25-year-old
took broke the Aussie’s serve five time and lost her serve three times to collaborate a 6-3, 6-4 victory in one hour and 22 minutes. She won almost 70 percent points on her serve to close out victory in style.
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