Lucie Safarova gets the better of Vera Dushevina in quarterfinal – Kremlin Cup 2011
Czech Lucie Safarova got the better of Russian Vera Dushevina in the quarterfinal of the Kremlin Cup 2011. The two had taken up the challenge on indoor hard courts of the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia. After one hour and thirty
five minutes the higher ranked Safarova thrashed the lower ranked Dushevina in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4 on Friday the 21st of October 2011.
The first round of the match was initiated by Dushevina and she easily bagged the first service game to place herself on the scoreboard at 1-0. Following right behind her was Safarova, who found a bit of difficulty in holding her
serve but eventually bagged her first service game and placed herself beside Dushevina on the scoreboard at 1-1. In the third game Dushevina double faulted and gifted her adversary a game. Safarova not only capitalized from the breakpoint but also held her
serve to take a mini lead at 3-1.
During the fifth and the sixth game the players broke each other back-to-back and the scoreboard had shifted to 4-2. In subsequent two games the players won a service game each on their respective serves and further moved the scoreboard
to 5-3 with Safarova leading the game. The Czech was now only a game away from victory.
The serve switched, Dushevina’s served and successfully bagged her service game and she managed to reduce the deficit to 4-5. In the tenth game Safarova smashed a beautiful backhand winner down the line and clogged the opening
set with a 6-4 victory and was now one up in the match.
The second was also initiated by Dushevina and she successfully managed to open the scoreboard at 1-0 by bagging the first game. At her heels was Safarova, who too clogged her first service game and rotated the scoreboard to 1-1.
In the third game Dushevina’s forehand shot went wayward and she ended up endorsing a game to her adversary. On the contrary, Safarova not only benefitted from the early break but also held her serve to reel off straight two games and take a mini lead of
3-1 by the end of the fourth game.
The two players then constantly matched an eye for an eye and the scoreboard progressed on even terms. The two first held serve for the following four games and each had bagged two service games each. At this point the scoreboard
had shifted to 5-3 with Safarova leading the game. The serve switched and Dushevina held her service game for the last time and spun the scoreboard to 4-5. In the tenth game, as the Czech smashed a crosscourt shot, she bagged the set and the match.
Next up for Safarova is Estonian Kaia Kanepi in the semi final of the event.
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