Marion Bartoli downs Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in the second round – AEGON International 2011
World number nine Marion Bartoli of France cruised past Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, ranked 72nd
in the world, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 16 at the AEGON International on Wednesday. It took the French one hour and 48 minutes to undo her opponent.
Bartoli broke Martinez Sanchez in the opening game of the first set to go up 1-0. However, she could not maintain the lead as the Spaniard cut the deficit to tie the score at 1-1. Both women held their serves in the next four games,
levelling the score at 3-3. Bartoli broke her opponent again in the seventh game and this time she succeeded in holding her serve in the next game, taking a 5-3 lead. Serving to stay in the set at 3-5, Martinez Sanchez failed to hold her serve and lost the
opening set 3-6.
The French woman delivered 45 percent of her first serve and won 65 percent of points on them. The right-handed convert three of seven break point opportunities she received.
The second set, a carbon copy of the first set, wrapped up with the same pattern. Both women continued to break each other’s serve on number of occasions, however, it was Bartoli who succeeded in clinching the set with a 6-3 score.
Bartoli delivered 64 percent of first serve and won 81 percent of points behind her first serve, and 44 percent of points behind her second serve respectively. In contrast, her adversary fired three aces and 67 percent of her firsts
serve, winning 75 percent of points on her first serve and 30 percent of points on her second serve in the match.
With this win, Bartoli has improved her year-to-date win/loss mark to 32/15 matches since January. Up next for the French woman is the Belarusian No.1 Victoria Azarenka, who made the last 16 by virtue of her two-set victory against
Elena Baltacha of Austria in the second round. Bartoli and Azarenka will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers when they collide for the AEGON International semi-final berth.
A less-than 100% fit Bartoli will have all she can handle against Azarenka, who seems to be settling into a groove this week. The five-time quarterfinalist will need to avoid slipping into passive play to have a chance at a victory.
The Frenchwoman has a truly beautiful two-handed backhand, but it simply will not hold up under the onslaught of Azarenka’s groundstrokes. One or two sets could be interesting, but look for the world No.5 to pick up more steam and roll into the semi-finals.
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