Polona Hercog, Petra Cetkovska progress to the second round – XXIV SNAI Open
Blasting away Karin Knapp of Italy with 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 score, Slovenian Polona Hercog is through to her second round match, being played here at Palermo, Italy.
The 20-year-old Hercog shrugged off the loss of the opening set to oust the World No. 216 in a gripping match lasting two hour and 36 minutes of play that helped extending
her year-to-date win/loss mark to 20/17 matches.
The opening set went with the serve until Knapp broke Hercog in the sixth game, but the Italian immediately broke back in the next, pumping her fist after thumping a backhand
volley. However, the Italian player regained control by breaking Hercog in the twelfth game, after seeing Hercog making a number of unforced errors.
The second set looked to be the carbon copy of the first with a decisive break of serve paving the way for Knapp to lead the score 40-0. But an abrupt change was observed
in the tenth game when Slovenian quickly recovered to take the score at one set apiece.
Restarting play in the third set, both women started off great matching neck and neck. A competitive hold of serves from Knapp and Hercog kept the score tied for the first
four games. However, forcing back to back errors on Knapp in the sixth game, Hercog was able to go 4-2 in the lead. Serving out the set at 5-2 the Slovenian made the decisive shot of the day, clinching the decider with a 6-2 score.
Taking 156 minutes of play, an in-form Hercog continued her dominion over the Italian as she fired a whopping 76 percent on first serve while committing three double-faults.
Additionally, she secured 63 percent on first serve, 48 percent on return and 48 percent on return while winning 55 percent of points in total.
She now moves on ahead to play Alberta Brianti of Italy in the second round. The latter defeated Silvia Albano in straight sets to set up a clash with the Slovenian.
Also, Petra Cetkovska of Czech Republic beat Russian qualifier Elena Bovina in straight sets 6-1, 7-5 to reach the second round of the tournament.
The Czech took only one hour and twenty four minutes to dominate the terms, winning 57 percent of points on service, 61 percent of points on return and 59 percent in total,
to win the match and set up the clash with the Uzbek Akgul Amanmuradova in the second round of the tournament.
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