Petra Kvitova steals win against Julia Goerges in the second round - Fed Cup WG II 2012
World number two, Petra Kvitova, was tested to limits by the German diva, Julia Goerges, in the opening round battle of the Fed Cup World Group II tie between Czech Republic and Germany. It was a cracking encounter that ended
in the favour of the deserving participant; Kvitova won the battle with cumulative scores of 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.
On 3rd February, both players locked horns for the second time in their professional career. Goerges had won the first encounter during the second round of Generali Ladies Linz tournament in 2010; it was obvious
that Kvitova needed to win this not only for her country but also to level the head-to-head scores.
Unfortunately for Germany, 14th ranked, Sabine Lisicki also faced an upset by the 49th ranked, Iveta Benesova. It doubled the lead for the Czech Republic team in the Fed Cup
tie and they enter the second day of the contest with their heads up. Germany has to fight from behind to earn some triumphs after losing two three-setters.
First set started in sloppy fashion; both players hung on to their serves before trading breakthroughs in the fourth and fifth game. At the end of six games scores were 3-3. Despite the proximity of scores, Kvitova looked
a better player with her powerful serves and steaming backhand returns.
Finally the Czech’s efforts were rewarded with another breakthrough in the eighth game and she needed to hold her serve in the next game to win the opening set. She did exactly that and exerted immense pressure on her opponent.
Goerges came back strong and continued to hold her serve in the opening games of the set. Her consistency frustrated Kvitova, who faulted miserably in the eighth game; lost her serve game and lost the set lead by the end
of the ninth game. Third set was pretty tight with both players not allowing anyone to take charge of the proceedings.
First six games went by without any breakthroughs. Both players exchanged breakpoints in the next two games. They were tiring but no one was willing to surrender. Both women traded break points once again in the eleventh
and twelfth game as the scores progressed to 6-6. Crowd loved every bit of this enthralling battle. No more breakthroughs in the next four games and the scores pushed to 8-8.
Goerges was extremely tired at that stage and the speed of her serves was declining, giving an opportunity to her opponent to have a breakthrough. Kvitova broke serve in the following game and successfully held her own to
gobble up the win.
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