Maria Jose Sanchez overwhelms Sandra Zahlavova to enter QF – NURNBERGER Gastein Ladies 2011
Spanish tennis pro Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez defeated Sandra Zahlavova of Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday to book a third round birth at 2011 NURNBERGER Gastein Ladies in Bad Gastein, Austria. Martinez Sanchez started off
a bit slowly but she was able to raise her game play as the match progressed.
The first set was played on a competitive note but the second one proved to be very one sided. Under pressure, Execution went out of Zahlavova’s game as she started to make a large number of unforced errors to let her opponent
win cheap points.
Looking for a place in the third round of the Women’s Tennis Association tournament, Martinez Sanchez looked to take control of the contest right from the start. Showing her aggressive intent, she worked brilliantly with hit and
volley technique to surprise the challenger. Making her first serve break of the match in sixth game of the opening set, she took a crucial 4-1 lead. The Czech was also prepared for the challenge as she broke straight back to stay in the set.
Leading 5-4, Sanchez had her second serve break opportunity to pocket the opener. Firing a blistering serve ace, she set up two set points for herself and then converted the first one to take a deserving set score lead 1-0.
The Spaniard continued to play her natural game freely in the second set as well. Her on-court agility and admirable baseline skills proved to be the real difference between the two women at the end of the day. Breaking the serve
twice in the set, Martinez Sanchez established complete control over the contest as she raced to an impassable 5-1 lead. Handling the situation incredibly well, she held on to her next service game with ease to complete her victory in straight sets.
Serving with control and accuracy, Sanchez grabbed 69 per cent of the points on her first serve. Hitting four serve aces in the match, she was able to get out of trouble with her wonderful serving skills whenever it was required.
Converting four out of seven break points in the match, she wasted very few opportunities.
Zahlavova failed to handle the pressure in a crucial match. She had her chances to break Sanchez but she could not play the big points well enough and hence paid the price. The Czech gave away nearly 45 per cent of the points on
her serve, suggesting that she was short of answers.
Ranked 54th in the world, Sanchez will be looking to achieve similar results in her next match-up against Yvonne Meusburger. Meusburger thrashed out compatriot Sybille Bammer to reach that far.
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