Magdalena Rybarikova outfoxes Jessica Pegula in round one – BNP Paribas Open 2012
World number 83, Magdalena Rybarikova, overpowers the 305th ranked American, Jessica Pegula, in the opening round of the BNP Paribas Open. It was a gruelling three-setter lasting for two hours and 17 minutes before the
Slovak grabbed the second round spot with the final scores of 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
No one ever thought that the local participant would last this far in the match, considering her inferior ranking and limited skill level. She started the first set in a cracking fashion by winning the first three games, including
a breakthrough as well. Her opponent fought back to level the scores at 3-3 with a breakpoint to her name as well.
No drama was witnessed in the following games, with scores ticking over to 5-5 before the American broke serve for the second time in the set to regain the lead. She comprehensively held her serve in the final game to register
a set lead; winning 55 points compared to 48 of her rival.
The second set was completely different from the first one, with the Slovak taking control of the proceedings right from the start. She was put under pressure in the opening two serve games but saved a couple of breakpoints to
keep the scores together.
Finally, a breakpoint for the Slovak in the fifth game turned the tables on the American who lost another serve game that gifted a resounding lead of 5-3 to her opponent. Pegula couldn’t find a critical breakthrough that could
have kept the set alive for her. She lost the second set and was level with her opponent as far as the set triumphs were concerned.
A replication of the second set score gifted a triumph to the Slovak who thoroughly deserved to win after her classic comeback. She broke serve in the second game to take the lead of 2-0. She continued to capitalise on her serves
giving no opportunity whatsoever to her opponent to break serve and level the scores.
Rybarrikova won 32 points in the final set that took her total points tally to 120. Her opponent fell short of eight points in total that separated her from the victory. The Slovak moves into the second round of the tournament
and locks horns with her compatriot, Dominika Cibulkova. The 16th seed Slovak, Cibulkova, earned a first round Bye so she is yet to open her account in Indian Wells. It will be interesting to see how she kicks-off her campaign in California.
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