Melanie Lucic, Stephanie Foretz Gacon move into main draw at 2011 Internationaux de Strasbourg
Third qualifying seed Melanie Lucic from Croatia defeated Gail Brodsky in three tight sets 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-4 in the final round of 2011 Internationaux de Strasbourg qualification tournament in France.
The match was played on an extremely competitive note as both players looked to dominate each other. Lucic made a strong start to the contest as she broke her opponent’s serve in the very first game of the opening set. The Croat
stuck to her strengths and created wonderful opportunities with her strong ground play. She held on to her serve game with ease to take the opener.
Brodsky made a strong come back in the second set. She lifted her spirits and showed amazing fighting ability and determination to take the set in to a tie-breaker. Lucic broke the serve first in third game with a lovely forehand
winner down the line. Brodsky broke back immediately with four straight points. In the tie-breaker Lucic couldn’t handle the pressure and presented Brodsky with easy chances as the match went into the decider.
Leading the game score 4-3 in the final set, Brodsky looked on course to a famous victory but Lucic had other ideas as she clinched three successive games to ensure her place in the main draw of the red clay courts tournament.
Ranked 106 in the world, Lucic is having a very tough time on the Women’s Tennis Associaition tour since the start of this season. She has managed to win only three out eleven matches so far in the year. She will be extremely happy
at her advancement to the main tournament and will hope to achieve similar results in her upcoming matches as well.
Fifth seed Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France also qualified for the main draw with a 6-3, 7-6 (7), 6-2 victory over Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko.
Both contestants displayed some high quality tennis in a match that lasted for more than 2 hours and 12 minutes. Gacon started off in fine fashion and made the crucial first serve break early in the opening set to solidify her
position in the contest. She took the opener with a stunning backhand winner.
Bondarenko made a strong come back in the following set and managed to take the set into the tie-breaker. She dominated her opponent in the tie-breaker and successfully levelled the set score 1-1.
Despite having the psychological advantage, Bondarenko failed to make an impression in the final set. Gacon broke the serve twice to earn a well deserved victory. She will be looking to carry over the winning momentum in her next
match-up at the tournament as well.
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