Lucie Safarova overwhelms Jill Craybas in opening round – Bell Challenge 2011
Ranked at number 26 in the world, Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic had no real difficulty in disposing of the unseeded American competitor, Jill Craybas, in the opening round of Bell Challenge on Tuesday night.
Being played on the hard courts of Quebec, Canada, the contest lasted for less than one hour before the second seeded Safarova wrapped up a forceful victory at 6-2, 6-1, to advance to the second round of the $220,000 WTA (Women’s
Tennis Association) tournament in style.
The 112th ranked American hung in the contest for merely 52 minutes before succumbing to the belligerent second seeded opponent in the second set. Safarova appeared absolutely unplayable in the match and raced through
the game s with the utmost ease. Her points winning proficiency in the game was phenomenal and she gave no chances to Craybas to get settled in the contest.
The bleak American failed to craft a single break opportunity in the entire matchup, while Safarova nailed five out of her 14 break chances in the contest en route to victory. Craybas was drowned by her error-ridden game in the
match, as she sprayed a number of errant strokes all over the court to let the aggressive Czech easy opportunities to crack in thudding winners on regularity.
Despite of a below par serve of merely 43 per cent, Safarova reeled off all of her 15 first serve points in the match to come out as the winner in the end. She was equally good with her return game and the rock solid baseline defence.
The second seed was off to a flying start in the opener, breaking her opponent in the third game to lead 3-1 early in the set. A second serve breaks from Safarova in the seventh game proved decisive in the first set, as she closed
out the opener at 6-2 to get one up in the contest.
Safarova carried on her onslaught in the next set as well and nailed three more break point conversions to wrap up victory at 6-1. She will take on her fellow compatriot, Andrea Hlavackova, in the next encounter to fight for a
place in the quarter-finals of Bell Challenge.
Tags: