Mona Barthel, Polona Hercog and Romina Oprandi are the underdogs to watch in Auckland – Tennis News
World number 39, Mona Barthel, will join the likes of 61st ranked Romina Oprandi and the 79 in the list of world ranking, Polona Hercog, in a versatile field of ASB Classic that will kick off on the New Year eve.
Barthel showed some symptoms of her lethal artillery in the opening round of this year’s edition of the ASB Classic when she demolished the likes of Jelena Dokic in the opening round before the top seed Sabine Lisicki edged her after a very gruelling battle.
The good form was carried to the second tour of the season to Hoobart where she cleared the qualifying stages and kept her head straight; crushed Angelique Kerber and Yanina Wickmayer on her way to her maiden Women Tennis Association title.
Hercog had a forgettable season in 2011. She was surrounded by several injuries and those frustrating losses added to her dismay. However, she succeeded in retaining her title in Bastad and added the second trophy to her title rack this year. The amazing
run in Sweden included a major upset against the 18th ranked German star, Julia Goerges, who was in a cracking run of form at that time and the Slovenian professional was coming back from an injury layoff.
In 2010, Hercog made her debut in the ASB Classic event but was thrashed in the opening round of the tournament by the Israeli star, Shahar Peer. She didn’t come back to improve her record for the next two years but plans on capturing a better result in
the next edition of the tournament.
Oprandi has never won a Women Tennis Association title in her entire career that was encompassed by the number of injuries. She stayed out of action for quite a long time but made a breakthrough in the current season and reached the 61st ranked in the world.
However, she has enjoyed a career-high 46th spot in the world rankings in 2006.
She has contested in three editions of the ASB Classic tournament; 2007, 2011 and 2012. She was knocked out in the opening round during the first two tours but managed to survive the first stage this year before stooping out to the Bulgarian Dia Evtimova.
Hence, the improvement is desperately required for the Swiss who has considerably reduced the number of piercings on her body.
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