Olga Puchkova stuns Sloane Stephens; Petkovic marches on – Citi Open 2013
Russian starlet, Olga Puchkova, shocked the second seed, Sloane Stephens, in straight sets at the Citi Open 2013, a WTA International level even being held in Washington D.C. She clobbered a 7-5, 6-3 success over the local star to power into the second round
on Monday.
The underdog displayed brilliant tennis to outclass Stephens in their first encounter.
"I just didn't play that well and wasn't feeling the ball great," Stephens said. "I would say that I'm a pretty consistent player - I don't really hit balls all over the place, that's not really how I play - but today there were some that I really couldn't
believe it went that far out."
Puchkova stormed into this match as she drew the first blood in the second game and jumped to a 3-0 lead. She lost her edge in the seventh game but broke again to take a 5-3 lead. Despite squandering her chance of serving out the set, the Russian stayed
on track and got the breakthrough in the last game. As a result, she pocketed the opener with a 7-5 victory.
Ranked 88th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Puchkova lost her momentum in the start of the following set as she gifted away her opening serve. However, she quickly leaped to a 3-1 lead with two breaks of serve. Regardless of losing her edge in the
fifth game, the Russian cashed another break point opportunity and took a 5-2 lead. She slid her serve once again and clinched the set with a 6-3 score line.
The former Top 10, Andrea Petkovic, will join Puchkova in the second round. She breezed past Jessica Pegula in straight sets to progress. The German star recorded a 6-2, 7-5 score line against the local qualifier to inch closer towards the title.
The defending champion, Magdalena Rybarikova, also earned the limelight later that day.
"I'm feeling a bit of pressure coming back as champion and I started very badly," Rybarikova reflected. "But I always believed I could win this match and when I had some chances, I took them. I started to find my game in the third set and was really happy
with how I was playing then.”
The seventh seeded Rybarikova came from behind to formulate a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory against Christina McHale.
Tags: