Lourdes Dominguez Lino upsets Tsvetana Pironkova to advance at Sony Ericsson Open
Spanish Lourdes Dominguez Lino bounced back at the 31st seeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 nail-biter match on Friday. The Spaniard has now advanced to the third round at the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open
in Miami.
The Spaniard lost to the world number 34 Pironkova on clay courts at Sofia in 2003. The 29-year-old finally got a chance to take revenge after eight years as she displayed her tremendous skills to make an epic come from a set down
to win against the Bulgarian in a three set thriller. She has now levelled their head to head series by 1-1 against the 23-year-old Pironkova.
The youngster was in good shape in the opening set as she committed less double faults and earned an amazing 75 percent in on her slightly lower first serve share. She saved one out of two breakpoints and produced five breakpoints.
Furthermore, the Bulgarian was able to convert to convert two breakpoint opportunities to her advantage and finally won the set with a 7-5 victory over the Spaniard.
Ranked 49th in the world, Lino recently won the title at Bogota after overpowering French Mathilde Johansson in three sets, re-focused and put herself together.
Playing Pironkova, Lino hit quick forehands and backhands registering a spectacular 87 percent win on her slightly lower first serve share. Lino also saved three out of four breakpoints and converted two out of seven breakpoint
opportunities to her advantage to clinch the equalizer set with a 6-3 win.
The Spaniard carried her winning ways into the final set and produced an acceptable first serve percentage of 47 percent as compared to slightly lower Pironkova’s 43 percent. She also earned a convincing 69 percent win on it and
saved four breakpoints he conceded. In addition to this, Lino converted two out of five breakpoint opportunities to her advantage to win the set with a 6-4 score line.
Overall, the Spaniard committed more double faults and had a similar first serve share against the Bulgarian. Although, two players earned similar points on their first serve share, Lino clinched the match by breaking Pironkova’s
serve five times.
Lino will next face 5th seeded Francesca Schiavone who reached this spot after trashing German Angelique Kerber in straight sets.
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