Magdalena Rybarikova defeats Marion Bartoli in straight sets at the 2011 Barcelona Ladies Open
Unseeded Slovakian pro Magdalena Rybarikova surprised spectators at the 2011 Barcelona Ladies Open, ousting top seed Marion Bartoli in straight sets in the first round of the tournament.
The Slovakian pro needed only eighty six minutes to get past the thirteenth-ranked French woman, who was broken five times during the match. Bartoli received a wild card entry into the tournament and had been installed as a top
seed but an error-strewn performance from the French women ensured she was sent packing early from the Catalan Capital.
This is the second time in a row that the top seed Bartoli has fallen in the first round match to her lower ranked opponent. Last week she was ousted by the German Kristina Barrois, who was a wild card entrant into the tournament.
With two early exits in a row, the Frenchwoman has definitely shocked her fans. Bartoli made the best performance of the season at the BNP Paribas Open, where she reached the final spot of the tournament defeating skilled players like Kim Clijsters, Ana Ivanovic
and Yanina Wickmayer before losing to the eventual champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in straight sets.
The Slovakian pro moved into the second round with a clinical straight sets win over Bartoli, who collapsed in a heap after missing two points in the opening set. The 22-year-old Rybarikova was very patient throughout the set,
receiving lots of balls back into play and waiting for the error from her higher ranked opponent. The Frenchwoman just won five points in a completely one sided match with a 6-4, 6-1 score line.
The Slovakian pro was in a wonderful form with some great shot making and gusty play. The Frenchwoman was completely unable to hold onto her consistent baseline hitting which resulted in her grinding defeat in straight sets.
Rybarikova put in top quality performance to ensure her berth at the second round of the tournament. No doubt the Frenchwoman started the match vigorously and had plenty of break chances in the first set but she was unable to convert
two of them. From then on Rybarikova was on top, powering the ball to Bartoli’s forehand, who was unable to last the pace and allowed her lower ranked opponent to dominate with her game. The 22-year-old Slovakian looked very comfortable and concluded the match
with a first serve percentage of 57 percent in total.
The Slovakian pro is all set to face either Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain or Virginie Razzano of France in the second round of the tournament.
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