Monica Puig cripples Ines Ferrer Suarez in the qualifiers – Whirlpool Monterrey Open 2012
Qualifying fifth seed, Monica Puig, slaughtered the Spanish competitor, Ines Ferrer Suarez, in the second round of qualifiers at the Whirlpool Monterrey Open 2012 on Sunday. She jolted down a 6-0, 6-4 victory against the world number 222 to book a spot in
the final qualifying round at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International event held in Monterrey, Mexico.
The Puerto Rican youngster stayed focused throughout the match to outmuscle Suarez in straight sets at the Sierra Madre Tennis Club. Facing each other for the first time, Puig not only booked a spot in the final round of the qualifiers but also moved a step
closer to bag $37,000 prize money.
The 18-year-old went out of control in the opening set and blasted powerful groundstrokes to reel off all six games successively. She drew the first blood in the opening game and then maintained her intensity to pocket the bagel in under half an hour.
Puig, ranked 190th in the WTA Premier Rankings, kept her rhythm in the last set and got the critical break in the opening game to take the initial lead. Apart from levelling the scores at 3-3, she stayed calm and capitalised on another break chance
in the ninth game to clinch the set with a 6-4 score line.
All in all, the Puerto Rican took full advantage of the several unforced errors and nine double faults Suarez committed. She also clobbered a higher first serve share of 60 percent as compared to the Spaniard’s 55 percent and impressively penned down 20
out of 27 points on it. Mustering the match further, Puig found 12 break opportunities and converted five to her advantage.
Next challenge for the fifth seed is the Swiss contender, Amra Sadikovic, who downed a local wild card entrant, Nadia Abdala, in straight sets to secure this position. The Swiss blocked all three breakpoints she came across and cashed in three out of five
break chances, ultimately sealing the deal with a 6-4, 6-2 success.
Second seeded Estrella Cabeza Candela failed to progress at this hard court event. She was underplayed by the 19-year-old Portuguese, Maria Joao Koehler, in straight sets.
The Spaniard, ranked 159th in the WTA rankings, lost her serve once in each set, eventually suffering a 3-6, 2-6 shock in 69-minutes.
Koehler will next confront the Croatia rising star, Maria Abramovic, who drilled through her compatriot, Darija Jurak, with a bagel to set-up this meeting.
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