Mandy Minella rallies past Yaroslava Shvedova to reach quarters – Whirlpool Monterrey Open 2012
Luxembourgian starlet, Mandy Minella, went the distance to oust the wild card entrant, Yaroslava Shvedova at the Whirlpool Monterrey Open 2012 on Thursday. She clobbered a 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-4 victory over the Kazakh to secure a final eight spot at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International event taking place in Monterrey, Mexico.
The world number 94, Minella required three sets to outclass the Kazakh in almost two and half hour long marathon. Battling each other for the first time, she not only took lead in the head-to-head series by 1-0 against Shvedova but also stayed on track to bid for her maiden career title.
Minella made a shaky entry at the Sierra Madre Tennis Club and gifted away her serve in the opening game. However, she remained focused and not only snatched his break back but also took a 4-2 lead with two breaks of serve. Despite losing her edge in the seventh game, the Luxembourgian capitalised on another break chance in the follow-up game and subsequently bagged the opener with a 6-3 win.
The 24-year-old kept her losing ways in the following set and went 3-0 down after gifting away her serves twice. However, she re-focused after this and snatched a break back in the fourth game. The Russian-born maintained consistency in her game and recovered in the eighth game, ultimately dragging the set to a tie-breaker. She outshined Minella in it and clinched the equaliser with a 7-6(1) score line.
The high spirited Luxembourgian re-gathered her strength in the final set. She suffered the first blow in the opening game and apart from recovering in the very next game, Minella lost her serve again in the third game. However, she recovered again in the eighth game and bagged the decider after cashing in her third break opportunity in the last game.
The second seeded Sara Errani awaits the Luxembourgian in the quarter-finals. The high flying Italian saved only one out of four breakpoints she came across but capitalised on seven out of 16 break opportunities, consequently sealing the match with a 6-2, 6-3 success in their second meeting.
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