Marion Bartoli disposes Iveta Benesova to reach round two - Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2012
Iveta Benesova, the Czech qualifier, was dumped by the seventh seed French, Marion Bartoli, in the opening round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix at the red clay courts in Stuttgart, Germany. The double handed powerhouse from France
dispatched the qualifier in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round of the tournament in style.
It was just a mere practice match for the French who disposed the 29-year-old Czech in an hour and 19 minutes; registering her fourth head-to-head triumph against her. The only time she lost the 44th ranked Czech was
way back in 2004 during the second round of the Abierto Mexicano De Tenis in Acapulco. Apart from that she has registered victories in Rogers Cup 2010, Brisbane International 2011 and China Open 2011.
Both players were in good touch in the recent time having won seven of their last ten matches. It was expected to be a gruelling battle considering the form of the Czech contestant but the seventh seed French starlet didn’t allow
her to open up and play her natural game. She was tied down with big booming cross-court and down the line winners that just dismantled her confidence completely.
The opening four games of the match kept the scores together as both players capitalized on their serves and tried to stamp their authority. However, it was the French superstar who broke the shackles and registered the first breakpoint
of the match in the fifth game.
The momentum suddenly swirled in favour of the French who forced another breakthrough in the ninth game. It was technically a very sound performance from Bartoli who holds the record to be the only players, this year to have defeated
the reigning world number one, Victoria Azarenka.
Benesova wasn’t bad at all. She was playing well but wasn’t able to handle the onslaught of her opponent. She tried hard to stay into the match and sneak few important points but every time she failed to turn the things around.
The second set witnessed a terrific start for the Czech who broke serve and took a lead of 2-0. However, it was the only thing she could grab; Bartoli turned the tables upon her with a serve hold and breakthrough in the following
two games and repeated this scenario thrice to devastate the Czech.
Marion Bartoli faces the winner of the match between the Serb beauty queen, Ana Ivanovic, and the German wildcard entrant, Mona Barthel.
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