Mandy Minella ousts Kimiko Date-Krumm in 1st round – Toray Pan Pacific Open 2011
Mandy Minella gave the boot to home girl Kimiko Date-Krumm in the opening draw of the Toray Pan Pacific Open 2011. On the 26th of September, the contesters battled it out on the hard outdoor courts of the Ariake Colosseum,
Tokyo, Japan. In one hour and fifty five minutes Minella got rid of the Japanese Date-Krumm by bouncing back from a set down to secure her victory of 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Date-Krumm opted to serve first after winning the pitch and she not only held her serve but also went on to capitalizing on an early break against Minella to take a lead of 2-0. However, Minella was not going to let the home girl
ease away without a fight and broke back in the very next game.
During the fourth game the competitors’ rivalled three deuces until emerging victorious was Date-Krumm. The Japanese saw Minella as no threat as she had more experience down her belt and was able to break her again in the sixth
game.
As Date-Krumm served for the opening set she smashed a backhand down the line at 40-30 and secured a bread stick opening set victory.
After taking a beating in the first set, Minella shifted into a winning mode and opted to serve first in the second set. As she held serve in the first game, she rolled the score board at 1-0. Luxembourgian Minella got her revenge
as she broke her adversary in the second game and by holding her own in the third she led with a 3-0. She further went on to increasing the gap by converting another break point opportunity to her advantage and by the fourth game it was only Minella on the
score board with a 4-0.
During the following two games the players held serve and it was for the first time in the second set that Date-Krumm made a comeback which of course was a little too late but by the seventh game the Japanese had broken her adversary
again and was now three games down against Minella.
The last two games went as expected as Minella was now looking to serve for the set in the ninth game; she smashed two consecutive aces at 30-15 and put her foot back into the game by winning the second set.
The players now had bagged a set apiece and opening the decisive set was Date-Krumm but she got off on to a bad start and lost the opening game, allowing Minella to take a 2-0 lead as she held her serve in the second game. The
players then won on alternate serves in the following six games but Minella was still a break and game ahead of her rival.
Serving for the match, she smashed another two aces to reel off a quick 6-3 victory and was able to secure a place in the second round of the event.
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