Olga Puchkova upsets Kiki Bertens to reach round three – US Open 2012
World number 143, Olga Puchkova, registered an upset against the 74th ranked Dutch professional, Kiki Bertens, in the second round of the US Open in New York. On the eve of Thursday, she fought back a set down to oust
her rival in three sets 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
A trade of breakpoints was witnessed in the first two games of the match. However, the 20-year-old Dutch sneaked a serve before swapping breakthroughs for the second time in the match. Finally, Puchkova managed to hold on to her
serve and levelled the scores at 3-3.
Bertens was under the cosh after losing the third breakpoint to her rival. The Russian was on course on winning the first set; serving for the set, the 24-year-old Russian faltered on her serve and gifted the lead as well as the
opportunity of winning the first set.
The Dutch made full use of the mishap from her rival and held her serve after a bit of pressure. She continued to impress after winning two points in the following game and carried the momentum to win the fourth breakpoint of the
set.
The comeback from the Russian was emphatic enough to thump her opponent down. She won three breakpoints on the trot and didn’t falter once on her serve. She was leading the scores 5-0 and almost clinched a bagel but her opponent
restored some respect by breaking her rival’s serve and getting off the mark.
It was not long before the Russian dragged her opponent down and enforced the final set into play. Stage was set for another startling battle and it turned out to be one thrilling encounter. Bertens commenced the final set with
a serve hold; broke her rival’s serve and took an early lead of 2-0.
However, the tables were turned upon the 20-year-old Dutch who failed to hang on that meagre lead. Puchkova fought back immediately and levelled the scores at 2-2 but the momentum was shifted back in favour of her rival when she
failed to hold serve for the second time in the fifth game. The see-saw battle continued and finally it was Puchkova who earned the third set berth against the 10th seed Sara Errani.
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