Lucie Hradecka’s dream run on the blue clay courts at Mutua Madrid Open: Tennis Special
Czech rising star, Lucie Hradecka, displayed flawless performance at the Mutua Madrid Open 2012, a blue clay court event which is part of WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Tour 2012. Her impressive run of form saw her stunning some top class players and making
her first semi-final berth at a Premier Mandatory event.
The Czech starlet, who entered the main draw at Park Manzanares through qualifiers, showed her best tennis to cruise into her first Premier final four spot. Her shocking run saw her upsetting the defending champion, Petra Kvitova, and the US Open titlist,
Samantha Stosur, before bowing out to former world number one, Serena Williams.
"In one week I think I've gotten more points than I did the first half of the year," the Czech jubilantly stated after her match against the 13-time Grand Slam champion. "It was a great week for me, my first time in Madrid, and I played very well. I beat
two Top 10 players, both Grand Slam champions, which is very good for my mind. I know I can play with the top players now. It will be very good for me."
Hradecka started her campaign standing at world number 105 in this event. She thrashed the local wild card entrant, Ines Ferrer-Suarez, in straight sets in her opening qualifying match. The Czech then rallied past Russia’s Alla Kudryavtseva, in a three-set
thriller to book a spot in the main draw.
The 26-year-old high-spiritedly entered the opening round and despite receiving a breadstick, she outsmarted the Chinese veteran, Shuai Peng. She then advanced to confront the world number four, Kvitova, in the round of 32. Instead of losing her focus while
facing her top compatriot, Hradecka showed spectacular forehands from her box of tricks and stole the show.
Her next challenge was the Russian starlet, Ekaterina Makarova, and the Czech stayed on the right path as she not only tumbled over her rival in straight sets but breezed into her third WTA quarter-final.
The fifth seeded Stosur was next in line for the high flying Czech. Hradecka surprised everyone as she outfoxed the Aussie in two sets’ tie-breaker, ultimately setting up a date with the American number one, Williams.
The blooming Czech was quoted after triumphing over the Australian number one, Stosur, “It's an amazing feeling. I've never had this feeling from my singles before.”
Hradecka assertively battled the American veteran and smoothly swiped in her entire serves in the opening set. Apart from warding off all four break chances she came across, Hradecka was edged out in the tie-breaker. Adding further to her misery, she stepped
off steam in the second set and subsequently suffered a 6-7(5), 0-6 shock in one hour and 20 minutes.
Regardless of crashing out in the semis, the Czech’s skills and abilities were praised by everyone.
Hradecka, who was bidding for her maiden WTA singles career title here, will display her skills at the Rome WTA Premier Mandatory event.
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