Li Na trounces Sorana Cirstea in round two - Western and Southern Open 2012
World number nine, Li Na, survived the scare in the second round of the Western and Southern Open by dumping the 41st ranked Romanian diva, Sorana Cirstea, in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
She took revenge of the earlier loss that came across in the second round of the Wimbledon Championship in London, just two months ago. So, it was a sweet moment for someone who has not been in the limelight for a long period of
time despite being the Top-10 players for the more than a year.
Cirstea begin the first set with a serve hold and broke serve to take a lead early. However, the quick turnaround in the match from the Chinese star witnessed a breakthrough in the fifth game that helped her level the scores with
a serve hold.
Furthermore, Li bagged two breakpoints in a row to power down the Romanian despite starting off in sluggish fashion.
Three breakpoints at the start of the second set witnessed a cracking start to the second set. However, the scores were levelled by the 30-year-old Chinese superstar who did well to break serve in the sixth game. Scores were tied
at 3-3 at that stage.
Cirstea got lead on two occurrences in two set but failed to hang on. She won a breakpoint in the seventh game of the second set and took a lead for the third time in a match. This time around, the Chinese professional couldn’t
fight back and lost the set lead.
Stage was set for an epic final battle and the first three games of the third phase of the match hinted at another close ending. No player was able to break serve and take an initial lead.
However, the much wanted breakthrough was won by the ninth seed Chinese starlet who carried on consolidating her position with a serve hold.
No breakpoints were won in the remaining phase of the set and the Chinese superstar booked a third round berth against the Swede qualifier, Johanna Larsson, who looks set to record an upset against the Chinese superstar on the
eve of Friday.
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