Maria Sharapova conquers Christina McHale to reach round three – Internazionali BNL D’Italia 2012
Former world number one, Maria Sharapova, tumbled over the American star, Christina McHale, in straight sets at the Internazionali BNL D’Italia 2012 on Tuesday. She joggled up a 7-5. 7-5 victory against the world number 36 to cruise into the pre-quarters at this WTA Premier Five event taking place in Rome, Italy.
The Russian number one got the better of McHale in two hour and 12 minutes. The contestants previously battled each other at the US Open three years ago and after pocketing this match, Sharapova not only improved to a 2-0 lifetime in the head-to-head series against the American but also secured a place in the third round at this red clay court tournament.
"It was really about adjusting today," Sharapova was quoted in a post-match press conference. "I made too many unforced errors in the first part of the match and she was playing extremely consistently. Maybe I was trying to hit too many winners then. But I was fortunate enough to win that first set and get back into it in the second set. It was close. She has certainly improved since last time I played her."
Sharapova spilled many unforced errors and made a sloppy entry at Foro Italico. She suffered the first blow in the fourth game and fell at 1-4. However, the Russian found her rhythm after that and recovered in the ninth game. Despite losing her serve once again in the very next game, Sharapova unleashed her skills and went on a four-game tear. She brushed off four out of six breakpoints she faced and capitalised on two out of six break chances to inch towards the victory.
Currently ranked second in the WTA Premier Rankings, Sharapova carried her momentum in the following set and earned the critical break in the opening game to take the initial lead. Apart from losing her edge in the subsequent game, she remained focused and consequently carved out the set after cashing in her second break chance in the 11th game.
Next in line for the gorgeous Russian is the conqueror of the match between 13th seeded Ana Ivanovic and the Spanish qualifier, Silvia Soler-Espinosa.
The Czech number one, Petra Kvitova, also stole the show later that day. The third seed brilliantly warded off 12 out of 15 breakpoints she faced but cashed in five out of nine break opportunities, ultimately sealing the deal with a 7-5, 6-4 success in almost two hours.
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