Maria Kirilenko ousts Elena Baltacha in round one – Estoril Open 2012
World number 19, Maria Kirilenko, passed her first test at the Estoril Open on Tuesday by defeating the 28-year-old British tennis professional, Elena Baltacha, in straight sets 7-6(6), 6-1.
The Russian tennis icon took an hour and 42 minutes to oust the number one Briton and book a post in the second round of the tournament. She also improved her head-to-head tally to 2-0 against the British.
Kirilenko started the match with a serve hold; winning all four points upfront and sparing just one point for her opponent before bagging the opening serve game. Another thumping serve hold from the second seed Russian featuring
four cracking winners down the line was coupled with a couple of cross-court winners in the following game that helped her to break serve and take a lead of 3-1.
Both players held their serves in the following two games before trading three breakpoints in the ratio of 2:1 for the British. It was a stunning comeback from Baltacha who levelled the scores at 5-5 with a serve hold. A swap of
breakpoints enforced a tie-breaker round into play.
The Russian second seed had been in these positions more often and knew how to tackle the pressure situation. It was an epic battle throughout the tie-breaker; however, one mistake from the Briton cost her set at the end.
It was an easy return for the Briton who made a mess of it; hitting it straight at the throat of the net. The set was technically gifted to the Russian. However, nothing matters at the end except the points and Kirilenko happily
accepted the donation from her counterpart.
The second set started poorly for the Briton who lost the opening serve game and trailed 0-2 at the start. The Russian kept on the pressure and bagged the following serve game as well with no pressure at all; mounting a lead of
3-1. Baltacha faltered again on her serve and only won a single point before her opponent bagged the second breakpoint of the set and registered a monumental lead of 4-1.
Kirilenko was not in a mood to waste any opportunity at all. She bagged the following serve game winning all four points and pocketed the third and final breakpoint of the set in the seventh game.
Maria Kirilenko is set to take on the Italian qualifier, Karin Knapp, who ousted the Grecian tennis ace, Eleni Daniilidou in the opening round clash.
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