Petra Martic survives Erika Sema to progress in round two – Malaysian Open 2012
World number 66, Petra Martic, was tested to limits by the 138th ranked Japanese, Erika Sema, before she could book a spot in the second round of the BMW Malaysian Open on Monday. She battled for two hours and 29 minutes to earn a spot into the next round with final scores of 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
It was the first face-off between the two contestants and they both have nervy start to the contest; an exchange of several breakpoints is the proof of that. First four games went by with no one managing to hold on to her serve. Finally, successful serve holds at both ends were witnessed in the fifth and the sixth game, with scores ticking over to 3-3.
Further swap of breakpoints pushed the scores to 4-4 before Sema registered a successful serve hold and swirled the pressure back on the 23-years-old Japanese. After a taxing battle in the final game of the opening set, it was Sema who stood up and broke her opponent’s serve to take a set lead.
The second set was completely different from the opening one; Martic turned the tables on her opponent with a successful breakthrough in the first game and gobbled up a 2-0 lead in quick succession. The initial breakthrough proved beneficial and Martic was never broken in the second set. Although she was pressurized for a second, she still managed to save a breakpoint to keep her lead intact.
Despite having saved eight breakpoints, Sema couldn’t hoard the set. The final set witnessed comprehensive serve holds at both end; scores progressed to 3-3 without any drama. It was the superior ranked Martic who broke her opponent’s serve and took the lead. Her lead was cut short with a successful breakthrough in the tenth game but she broke serve in the following game reinstating her lead. She served for the match and successfully completed her first triumph in Kuala Lumpur in 2012.
The fifth seed Martic awaits the winner of the match that will take place between the Japanese contender, Kurumi Nara and Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, later in the day.
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