Monica Niculescu ousts Chanelle Scheepers in 2nd round – China Open 2011
Qualifier Monica Niculescu got the better of South African Chanelle Scheepers in the second round of the China Open 2011. The players took up swords on outdoor hard courts of the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China. After
one hour and eighteen minutes Romaine Niculescu thrashed Scheepers in a straight set victory of 6-2, 6-1 on the 5th of October 2011.
Opening the first round of the match was Scheepers but she was unable to hold serve for the first game and got off to a bad start. Mean while, Niculescu enjoyed bagging an easy game from her opponent by capitalizing on an early
break and as she held serve in the second game, she took a mini lead of 2-0. She further increased the lead to 3-0 by again capitalizing on a second break.
However, Scheepers made a return by breaking back immediately in the next game and the players again broke each other back-to-back in the following two games. By the end of the sixth game the scoreboard had moved to 4-2 with Niculescu
leading over Scheepers. Niculescu broke the South African for the last time in the seventh game and she was now looking to bag the opening set on her serve. As the Romaine served for the initial round, she smashed a big crosscourt backhand and was now one
up in the match.
The second round of the match was again opened by Scheepers, who was trying her hand for the second time but she again was not capable of winning on her service game. Although, Niculescu benefited from the break, she took a lead
by holding her serve in the second game. Scheepers finally won a game on her serve in the third game and reduced the deficit to 1-2.
However, Niculescu was in not going to let Scheepers catch up and thus, she again perfected her service game as she held her serve. Moreover, the lead was further increased when Scheepers endorsed a game to Niculescu by double
faulting. By the seventh game Niculescu was serving for the match and by holding her serve, she sealed her victory of the set and the match to secure a place in the third round of the event.
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