Lucie Hradecka defeats Estrella Cabeza Candela to progress into the semifinal of 2011 Barcelona Ladies Open
Lucie Hradecka is carrying her nation’s sporting hopes on her shoulders as no other Czech made it to the last four. She scored a confident straight sets win over Spaniard Estrella Cabeza Candela with a 6-4, 6-4 score line in just
one hour and twenty three minutes to enter the semi-final of the 2011 Barcelona Ladies Open, a WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) World Tour being played at the David Lloyd Club Turo in Barcelona, Spain.
The 1.77 meters tall started her 2011 campaign at the WTA tour in Brisbane where she successfully qualified into the main draw before losing to the Australian pro Samantha Stosur in straight sets. Hradecka, however, regained her
form immediately at the Midland, where she reached the final but lost to the eventual runner up Irina Falconi of America in straight sets.
Hradecka took advantage of an up and down Candela who paid the price for not taking her opportunities at the right time. The Spaniard had plenty of opportunities to serve for the first set but she failed to take them on time and
completely fell part in an error riddled first set. The Czech pro sliced her way around the court, constantly keeping the Spaniard on backfoot. Hradecka had a solid strategy as she kept changing the directions of her shots which made Candela off balance and
resulted in six double faults and much mistiming of shots during the match.
The Czech pro played exactly the way it was expected. She had prepared herself well before entering the field and that’s how she won in straight sets. She was patient throughout her game and didn’t force excessive risks that could
recant her victory. However, the 24-year-old Candela was trying her best as she returned a lot of balls into play but didn’t show that level of tennis which could hurt a confident looking Hradecka.
The Czech pro registered an impressive win over her Spaniard opponent as she won 16 percent points more than her in total. Moreover she clinched 60 percent of points on her service and 56 percent of points on return to jump into
the semi final of the tournament.
Hradecka was later joined by the Italian Sara Errani, who ended the hopes of recently crowned Fes Champion Alberta Brianti 6-2, 6-3 in 79 minutes of play. Hradecka and Errani will face each other for the second time on courts.
Given their first meeting on courts, Errani battled past Hradecka in straight sets at the Fed Cup Week 2 event to take a lead 1-0.
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