Michaella Krajicek battles past Alberta Brianti to reach quarters – Abierto Mexicano Telcel 2012
Dutch starlet, Michaella Krajicek, went the distance to outrun the eighth seeded Italian, Alberta Brianti, in a three set thriller at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel 2012 on Wednesday. She registered a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2) success against the 31-year-old to secure
a place in the final eight spot at this clay court tournament which is part of the 2012 WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Tour.
Krajicek and Brianti were facing each other the third time and after earning this glory, the Dutch improved to a 3-0 record in their head-to-head series.
The world number 72 made quick in-roads in the opening set and required one break of serve to bag the opener with a 6-3 win. Krajicek brushed off both breakpoints she came across and cashed in one out of three break opportunities in the eighth game to earn
the spotlight.
Ranked 62nd in the WTA Premier Rankings, Brianti carried her losing ways in the second set. The Italian lost her serve in the opening game but made an excellent reply as she pocketed the following four games in a row. She then maintained consistency
in her game and kept her remaining serves, subsequently sealing the equaliser by winning six games to three.
Both contestants played their best tennis in the final set and brought their experience into handy. The Dutch suffered the first blow in the opening game but quickly snatched her break back in the very next game. She then plucked remaining serves and dragged
the set to a tie-breaker. Krajicek outshined her opponent in it and clinched the decider with a 7-6(2) score line.
Summing up the 23-year-old’s show, the Dutch fired nine aces to smack the seed. Krajicek saved five out of eight breakpoints she came across and spectacularly registered 47 out of 60 points on her slightly lower first serve share.
Krajicek will next confront the highest ranked player of this event, Roberta Vinci. The top seed eased past France’s Stephanie Foretz Gacon in straight sets to set-up this date. Vinci lost her serve twice but cashed in half of the eight break chances to
jolt down a 7-5, 6-4 victory.
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