Olga Puchkova overpowers Alberta Brianti to reach the quarter-finals – Baku Cup 2012
World number 174, Olga Puchkova, bounced back from a set down to oust the 111th ranked Italian veteran, Alberta Brianti, in an enthralling three-setter second round match of the Baku Cup on the eve of Wednesday. Final
scores in the match were 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-1.
It was the second encounter between the two professionals and ironically the first one was also won by the inferior ranked Russian who moves into the quarter-final clash of the Baku Cup, contested in Azerbaijan.
Brianti commenced the match in dismal fashion and dropped the opening serve game that forced her to go down 0-2 in the opening set. However, she registered a resounding comeback and won five games on the trot including three breakpoints
to take a lead of 5-2.
She was on the verge of winning the first set before the 24-year-old Russian held her to win a breakpoint back and decrease the trail to 3-5 at the same time. However, the Italian veteran broke serve back in the following game
to finish off the opening set proceedings in emphatic fashion.
The second set witnessed a gruelling battle between the two players after a shaky start. Both contenders swapped breakpoints in the starting phase of the set before the Russian took lead with another breakthrough in the fifth game.
Scores were pushed to 4-3 in favour of Puchkova just before the Italian veteran broke serve to level the scores at 4-4. No breakthroughs were witnessed in the remaining portion of the set and the tie-breaker round was enforced
to decide the winner.
In the do or die situation, Puchkova rose her standard and won the tie-breaker to keep the match alive.
Stage was set for a cracking final battle between the two players. However, the crowd was left dejected to witness a half-hearted effort from Brianti who just held her serve once at the start of the set before gifting two successive
breakpoints that ended the match in favour of her rival.
Olga Puchkova locks horns with the winner of the contest between the third seed Luxembourg professional, Mandy Minella, and the Pole starlet, Marta Domachowska.
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