Marion Bartoli ousts Virginie Razzano in the opening round – Australian Open 2012
In an all-French contest, Marion Bartoli ousted Virginie Razzano in straight sets 7-5, 6-0, during the opening round battle of the Australian Open on Tuesday. It was a good competition between the two experienced tennis icons from
France and was enjoyed by the audience at the Show Court 3 arena in Melbourne.
It was the fifth contest between the two French professionals and world number nine clubbed this opportunity; took head-to-head lead of 3-2 and marched into the second round of the Australian Open. Bartoli won the first two encounters
in 2008, triumphing over Razzano during the Open Gaz de France contest in Paris and Internazionali BNL d'Italia played in Rome. Razzano reduced the trail to one match in AEGON International 2009 and levelled the head-to-head scores with a win in the second
round of the US Open 2010.
Both players were cautious at the start and held their serves in the first two games. Three successive serve breaks in the upcoming games pushed the scores to 3-2 in favour of the superior ranked French. Razzano broke serve in
the eighth game to level the scores at 4-4. No break points were witnessed in the next two games but breathtaking double handed backhand winners from Bartoli earned her the vital breakpoint; successful serve game by her rounded off the first set proceedings.
After such a cracking first round battle, no one expected the next set to end up with a bagel. The world number nine struck the fourth gear right from start and reverted to her aggressive game style. She hammered her opponent on
her serves and drained her stamina with a corner to corner game play. She broke first and held her serve to take 2-0 lead. He repeated the similar feat twice to finish off the second set proceedings and said goodbye the inferior ranked French.
Crowd was disappointed to see the lack of motivation from Razzano in the second set and expected a much more fighting response. Her tamed effort was not good enough to win a single game in the second set but nothing should be taken
away from the French superstar, Bartoli, as she allowed no opportunity to her opponent at all.
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