Maria Kirilenko dodges upset to oust Anastasia Rodionova in round two – Pattaya Open 2012
Second round battle between the fourth seed Russian, Maria Kirilenko and 98thranked Aussie, Anastasia Rodionova, took viewers by surprise. It turned out to be the most enthralling battle of PTT Pattaya Open; going
into three-sets with the Russian dodging an upset and taking the match 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(3).
Both these players had a face-off on two previous occurrences and Kirilenko dumped her opponent in straight sets in each match. She ousted Rodionova in Hyderabad 2003 and then again in SEAT Open, contested in Luxemburg, contested
a year later.
The first set was completely hijacked by the Aussie who broke serve in the first game and doubled the lead with a successful hold. Three breakpoints were traded later in the set that were shared in the ratio of 2:1 to the
Aussie who took the first set 6-2. She was fuming in with confidence but the fourth seed participant was not going to bow down so easily.
The second set witnessed a turnaround of momentum, as the Russian took her opponent with surprise in the sixth game and broke serve to take two games lead. Two break points were traded in the following games that kept her
lead intact and allowed her an opportunity to gobble up the second set with a successful serve hold. She was made to work hard for that hold but she overcame the resistance of her opponent and registered a set win squaring the scores at one set apiece.
Initial outbreak in the final set from the Aussie witnessed first three games going in her favour (including a breakthrough) before the Russian fought back to bring down the trail to just one game at 2-3. The Aussie tennis
ace broke her serve once again and regained the lead. She further enhanced her position with a successful serve hold to push the scores at 5-2. A classic turnaround from the fourth seed levelled the scores at 5-5, including a breakthrough.
In a tie-breaker round Kirilenko used all her experience to power down the Aussie and confirm the spot in the quarter-finals against the Thai contestant, Tamarine Tanasugarn.
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