Mariya Koryttseva thrashes younger compatriot Kateryna Bondarenko in quarterfinal – Baku Cup 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011 saw the start of the quarterfinal of the Baku Cup 2011. Meeting for the first time both compatriots Mariya Koryttseva and Kateryna Bondarenko duelled it out in the quarter final. Mariya won the match 7-5, 6-4 in 1 hour, 35 minutes and 20 seconds at the Baku Tennis Academy, Baku, Azerbaijan.
Neither of the players hit an ace, however, Mariya won the toss; serving first, her accuracy faltered and she struck three double faults out of which two were line faults and the other hit the net, while her opponent (Kateryna) struck only two double faults. Even though Mariya had only managed to win an above average sixty one percent of her first serve opening the set, she was able to gain a competitive edge because of her winning the three break point advantages at which the spectators cheered, whilst her opponent only managed to win two. The match was a close tie and she won the match with a total of five more set points than her rivals (Kateryna). Playing in front of her fans not only boosted her performance but took her all the way right until she won the set 7-5.
The second set was a comprehensive victory over her opponent. Both the players played relatively better than the first set and this it was Kateryna who was serving nervously as she had just lost the set and stuck three double faults. Although neither of the players smashed an ace, Mariya’s accuracy failed her only twice and struck two double faults both of which it the net. Both the players had an excellent serve but Mariya had a better return serve than her opponents and won a total of sixty three percent of her total return points in the set. This time Mariya had also improved her defence and was able to save fifty percent of her breaks along with winning sixty seven percent of her break point opportunities, which was relatively more than her opponents. She not only just won the set with a 6-4 victory but also nailed a straight set victory over her opponent
Despite being the elder Ukrainian from the compatriots the better player was the world number 165 Mariya Koryttseva, who won because of gaining an edge over her opponent by gaining more break points and also because of a consistent performance throughout the match. She secured her place in the semi final by only twelve more points than her opponents in the total match points.
The 26-year-old Ukrainian Mariya Koryttseva will either be facing the Russian Vera Zvonareva or the Georgian Anna Tatishvili in the semi final at the Baku Tennis Academy.
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