Mandy Minella upsets Carla Suarez Navarro to reach quarters – Nurnberger Gastein Ladies 2012
Luxembourgian star, Mandy Minella, stunned the fourth seed, Carla Suarez Navarro, in a see-saw three setter at the Nurnberger Gastein Ladies 2012 on Thursday. She penned down a 6-2 3-6, 6-3 victory against the world number 38 to power into the quarter-finals
at this red clay court tournament taking place in Bad Gastein, Austria.
The 26-year-old, Minella, displayed her top class performance to shock the seeded Spaniard in their second meeting. After pocketing the match in one hour and 48 minutes, Minella not only avenged her loss at the Luxembourg WTA (Women’s Tennis Association)
event three years ago but also levelled the head-to-head series by 1-1 against the 23-year-old.
"I'm very happy that I won this match," Minella was quoted in a post-match press conference. "I played really good. Earlier in the week it was quite humid and slow, but today it was drier and I took advantage of this and I'm pleased with how aggressive I
played."
Minella thundered into this WTA International tournament and drew the first blood in the opening game to take the initial lead. Despite squandering her edge in the very next game, she reeled off the following four games in a row and leaped to a 5-1 lead.
The Luxembourgian held her serve once more and sealed the opener by winning six games to two.
The Barcelona resident, Suarez Navarro made a fitting reply in the follow-up set and after breaking her rival’s serve twice, she jumped to a 5-1 lead. Regardless of wasting a chance to bag a breadstick, the Spaniard held her serve once more and clicked the
equaliser with a 6-3 win.
Ranked 95th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Minella found her rhythm again in the final set. She earned the coveted break in the fourth game and took a 3-1 lead. The Luxembourgian lost her edge in the very next game but capitalised on another break
chance in the sixth game, eventually bagging the decider with a 6-3 success.
Overall, Minella coughed more double faults and formulated a slightly lower first serve share of 56 per cent as opposed to her opponent’s 58 per cent. However, she magnificently availed 38 out of 54 points on it and cashed in six out of seven break opportunities
to earn the fame.
Next challenge for Minella is the eighth seed, Johanna Larsson, who eased past America’s Jill Craybas in straight sets to set up this encounter.
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