Petra Martic outsmarts Lucie Hradecka in the first round – Rogers Cup 2011
Meeting for the fourth time this year at the Rexall Centre in York University, Toronto, Canada Petra Martic outfoxed Lucie Hradecka by bouncing back from a set down in the main draw of the Rogers Cup 2011, on Tuesday the 9th
of August.
Previously the two had contested once in 2007 and twice earlier this year at the Brisbane and Indian Wells during the qualifying second round. In both the events Hradecka came out victorious and took the lead in the head-to-head,
but this time it was Martic’s turn to win and equalize the head.
Opening the first set was Hradecka who struck one double fault and smashed a walloping 5 aces during the set. However, Martic was unable to keep her precision and struck 6 double faults, along with; winning zero aces she lost most
of her points.
The Croatian, Martic won only 8 out of 23 points, making it a appalling 35% in her total service points against her opponent who Had 13 of 20 points, making it an above average 65% in her total set score.
The Czech (Hradecka) had brilliantly returned all her shots and threaded the needle by amassing another 65% in her return shots, while, Martic was unable to return 65% of her shots.
The world number 48 (Hradecka) had won the set by breaking her opponent thrice and also by accomplishing 65% win in the total set points.
The second set saw a reversal of events, and this time it seemed as if lady luck was on Martic’s side and she perfected her accuracy and struck zero double faults along with, four aces, which were an added bonus to her score points.
Even though, Hradecka had won a good 76% in her first serves, in the second she failed to achieve the same score and hence, had only achieved 55% of her total service points.
Mean while, with the reversal of fate Martic hacked her opponent’s weakness and started an assertive play which bagged her 67% of her total service points, along with, an average 45% of her total return points, she accomplished
a total of 55% in the total set score.
Breaking her opponent twice, Martic clenched a set and thus, both the players had won equal number of sets.
The third set of the match was not as unpredictable as the second, instead Martic kept her winning streak and although, she became nervous as it was not an easy task to play against the world number 48 (Hradecka), which resulted
in her striking 4 double faults but she also smashed 3 aces.
Moreover, Martic broke her opponent twice and bagged 61% of her total service points, along with an average return; she accomplished to win the set by restricting her opponent to only 4 game points and won the match.
The world number 86 was able to make safe a spot in the second round of the Rogers Cup 2011.
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