Melanie Klaffner hits back at Amandine Hesse to lift title – Djibouti ITF 2012
Austrian contestant, Melanie Klaffner, bounced back to triumph over the third seed, Amandine Hesse, in a three-set thriller at the Djibouti ITF 2012 on Sunday. She summed up a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory against the French to grab the title at this ITF (International Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place in Djibouti.
Seeded fourth in this event, Klaffner made a drastic entry at this outdoor hard court event taking place from 17th to 23rd December. However, she remained calm and eventually carved out the victory. After earning the success in almost two hours and 45 minutes, the Austrian comfortably captured the title and bagged the prize money.
The 19-year-old made quick in-roads after entering the Centre de Tennis de Gabode 4. She drew the first blood in the opening game and took the initial lead. Hesse lost her edge in the very next game but capitalised on another break chance in third game, eventually leaping to a 3-1 lead. Despite levelling the scores in the sixth game, the French held her remaining serves with poise and got the breakthrough in the last game. She brushed off two out of four breakpoints she faced and availed three out of five break opportunities to formulate a 6-4 success.
Klaffner rebounded in the proceeding set. She jumped to a 5-1 lead with two breaks of serve. Apart from losing her edge afterwards, the Austrian put her head in the game and clinched the equaliser with a 7-5 score line with another break of serve in the last game. She failed to ward off both breakpoints she encountered but cashed three out of six break chances to get back in contention.
Ranked 431st in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Klaffner’s skills were fully polished in the deciding set. After Hesse held her serve in the fourth game, the Austrian unleashed her skills and went on a four-game tear. She was never threatened with any barrier and converted two out of four break chances to her advantage.
The fourth seed ruled throughout the battle. She committed less errors and manifested a better first serve share to steal the show.
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