Marion Bartoli pushed to three sets in second round win over Olga Govortsova – French Open 2011
For the second match in a row, Marion Bartoli of France came back from the brink of defeat to win the match in three sets 6-4, 6(1)-7, 6-2. The French pro rallied from a second set deficit to defeat Olga Govortsova of Belarus on
Wednesday in the second round of the French open, being played at the Stade Roland Garros.
Bartoli and Govortsova both were in stunning form and entertained the crowd with a high standard of tennis and did not disappoint their fans. Highlighting her status as the skillful dual-fisted player in tennis, it took the 11th
seed two hours and fifty five minutes to demolish the Belarusian player.
The 22-year-old Govortsova, who had played three qualifying rounds and a first round match to reach this point, was miserably forced into a series of painful rallies by her French opponent.
Bartoli and Govortsova traded breaks in the fifth and sixth games before Bartoli broke decisively to lead 4-3 and then close out the first set with a love service game. However, the world No eleven lost all consistency on what
had been a strong serve and the Belarusian broke to go 7-1 in the tie breaker and tied the score one set apiece.
With strong serving and effective consistent strokes, the 26-year-old Bartoli gave the Belarusian no opportunity to find her momentum in the final set. A settled Bartoli led 3-1 in the deciding set, and then earned an insurance
break to 4-2. Two match points came in short order for the Frenchwoman and she brilliantly ended her effort with a forehand winner.
"It was a very hard fight, with very long rallies." Marion said, "She played a great tiebreak but at the beginning of the 3rd, I felt physically she suffered more than me. The fighting was very intense and I think people really
enjoyed watching. I again had enormous support from the crowd, which is fantastic."
The Frenchwoman wrapped up clean effort with 22 winners and 25 unforced errors while Govortsova recorded 46 winners against 37 mistakes.
With this win, the Frenchwoman has extended her year-to-date win loss mark to 28-14 and now moves on ahead to face Julia Goerges of Germany in the third round of the tournament. Bartoli and Goerges have already met each other at
the first round of Wimbledon with Bartoli leading the head-to-head series by 1-0.
Bartoli is well known for her defensive game and converting difficult volleys into winners. This is an ability of the French which might put some pressure upon Goerges and induce her to commit unforced errors. It will be an interesting
match when the two right-handers meet each other in the third round of the French Open on Thursday.
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