Monica Niculescu ousts Virginie Razzano in 3rd round – China Open 2011
Qualifier Monica Niculescu ousted another qualifier Virginie Razzano by bouncing back from a set down during the third round of the China Open 2011. The two had taken up swords on outdoor card court of the National Tennis Center
in Beijing, China. After two hours and thirty three minutes Romaine Niculescu had scored 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 against the French Razzano.
Opening the initial round was Razzano and both the players had capitalized on two early breaks in the first four games to progress the scoreboard on even terms at 2-2. During the next four games the players again matched a toe
for a toe and tied the score at 4-4. In the last two games Razzano not only held her serve but was lucky to benefit from a break in the last game and she took off with the opening set.
The second set was also opened by Razaano and again the players matched a blow for a blow in the first to two games to tie the score at 1-1. However, Razzano then lost steam and was unable to win a single game in the following
five games. However, Niculescu was on a roll after taking a thrashing in the first round. She not only held serve for the remaining five games but also capitalized from three out of the four breakpoint opportunities that were presented to her and in doing
so, she clogged a breadstick victory over Niculescu.
By the end of the first two sets the players each had scored a set and this was the final decisive set of the game. Opening the third round of the match was Niculescu and she expertly held her serve in the first game to place herself
on the scoreboard at 1-0. She then further went on to breaking her opponent in the second game and as she benefited from an early break, she had taken a mini lead of 2-0.
However, Razzano was not in the mood to throw in the towel as yet and broke Niculescu immediately in the following game and as she held serve in the fourth, she had tied the score at 2-2. In the following four games Niculescu held
serve and profited from another two breakpoints to secure a place in the quarterfinal of the event.
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