Lourdes Dominguez Lino eases past Anna Chakvetadze in the first round – UNICEF Open 2011
Spanish tennis player Lourdes Dominguez Lino thrashed out Anna Chakvetadze of Russia 6-4, 6-1 on Saturday to book her place in the second round of 2011 UNICEF Open in Hertogenbosch.
Lino took some time to settle down in the match as she struggled with her shots execution earlier on. However, she looked on top her of game in the second set to floor her opponent in only one hour and nineteen minutes.
Looking to gain momentum in the match, the 30-year-old Lino made a strong start to the match as she broke the serve in the very first game of the opening set. Breaking back, Chakvetadze was also up for the challenge as she evened
the set score 2-2.
The contestants continued to exchange breaks until the set entered an exciting phase. Showing no signs of nerves under pressure, Lino made the crucial serve break to take 5-4 lead, serving for the set. Converting her next service
game successfully, the Spaniard pocked the opener 6-4.
Having gained the psychological advantage over her opponent, Lino kept her head down and displayed some high quality tennis in the second set. Breaking the serve at regular intervals, she established complete control over the contest.
Having no problems wining her service games, she raced to 5-1 lead in the set. Chakvetadze struggled to execute her shots and eventually wore out to let her opponent clinch a straight sets victory.
Managing only a mere 50 percent first serve conversion, Lino made up for her low first serve conversion in other areas of the game. Claiming 57 per cent of the points on her opponent’s serve shows that she was in control of the
rallies. Besides her attacking abilities, Lino had a formidable defence as well thus allowing her to save certain break points against her. With her win, Lino also levelled her head-to-head record against Chakvetadze 1-1.
Chakvetadze had her chances to break the serve but she converted only half of them, which of course proved to be the main difference between the two players. She was reluctant to come close to the net and she let Lino dictate terms.
Ranked 51st in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings, Lino is having a decent time on the tour since the year 2011 has started. Claiming second WTA title of her career at Bogota, she earned valuable WTA ranking points.
She also made it to the quarterfinal of Mexican Open.
The Spaniard will be hoping to achieve similar results here at the grass courts of Hertogenbosch but consistency and self-belief are going to be the key factors in the later stages of the tournament.
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