Maria Kirilenko upsets Ana Ivanovic in 3rd round – Toray Pan Pacific Open 2011
The Russian unseeded Maria Kirilenko was on a roll when she ousted former world number one and twelfth seeded Ana Ivanovic in the third round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open 2011. Combating each other on hard courts of the Ariake
Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan, the Russian surprise won in straight sets of 6-3, 6-1 in just one hour and nineteen minutes on the 28th of September 2011.
Commencing the opening set was Kirilenko after winning the toss and the Russian had to battle four deuces in order score the first game. From there onwards neither of the players wanted to let go of a game and the score progressed
on even terms. The players matched a blow for a blow and squared off the score at 3-3 during the first six games.
In the following three games Ivanovic slipped once and capitalizing on the opportunity Kirilenko broke the Serb (Ivanovic) once to reel off a 6-3 victory of the opening set.
The Russian was able to clog the opening set b y minimizing her double faults and targeting 71 percent of her first serves. While the Serb was unable to fend off the Russian and had committed two double faults and was unable to
break the unseeded Russian in entire set.
Opening the second set was Ivanovic but she got off to an appalling start a she was unable to hold her serve in the very first game and instead double faulted on her second serve giving the game to Kirilenko. On the contrary, the
Russian world number 27 Kirilenko, got off to great start as she not only had conquered the first set but with the added boost in her performance went on to break her opponent in the first game and then by holding her own, she took a mini lead of 2-0.
During the third and fourth game the players won on their respective serves but in the fifth game Ivanovic again double faulted on her second serve and endorsed a costly game to Kirilenko. It was Kirilenko’s style with the added
confidence and performance that wearied Ivanovic and she was unable to set her rhythm in the set.
During the sixth game the world number 27 held her serve to gain a competitive edge over the Serb and Kirilenko was now looking to break Ivanovic for the last time. As Ivanovic was about to smash a crosscourt backhand, the crosscourt
went long and she erred handing over the match to the Russian surprise.
Maria Kirilenko was able to secure a place in the quarterfinal where she will be facing her fourth seeded compatriot, Vera Zvonareva.
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