Nicole Rottmann ousts Masa Zec-Peskiric in the first round – OrtoLaakarit Open 2011
On Wednesday 23rd November, Aussie Nicole Rottmann stunned Slovak Masa Zec-Peskiric, in the first round of OrtoLaakarit Open contested in Helsinki, Finland. It was an epic three-setter that lasted for almost two hours
and 15 minutes and ended with a glory for Aussie tennis star with a cumulative score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Both players were struggling to make an impact at the pitch and had lost bulk of their recent encounters with no major impact match that could regain the confidence for either of them. Slovak had just two victories under her belt
in her nine previous encounters whilst the Aussie contender had just four. So, the stats clear states that this was the major encounter for both players to have firm footing in the tournament and get over their losing streak.
Superior ranked Slovak was a better player on paper but her dismal run in recent past; no one could say anything for sure. Aussie started the match in aggressive manner and broke in the second game of the match to take 2-0.
She took the third game but her serve was broken by her opponent that took the score to 3-3. The game was evenly poised at that stage but Aussie was all fired up to win the first set and she flabbergasted everyone with another
break in the eighth game that helped her take 5-3 lead; she rounded off the set in the next game and left the match favourite Zec-Peskiric, trailing one set down.
Slovak started off the second set in commanding fashion having struck two aces in the first game. Aussie held her serves as well and this see-saw battle continued till the score moved to 3-3. Slovak won the next game and then everyone
witnessed a severe onslaught from her as she thumped her opponent on her own serves and won the eighth game with a break; served for the set and won it with ease that enforced the third set to decide the match.
Nervous start to the last set saw both players exchange breaks in the first two games. Players settled down and held their respective serves in the next six games. Rottmann served in the ninth game and took 5-4 lead. She came up
with some scintillating winners and after five deuces the game was finally won by the Aussie.
Nicole Rottmann plays second seed Timea Babos in the next round.
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