Polona Hercog wrestles it out with Heather Watson in the qualifying 2ndround – Rogers Cup 2011
Sunday August 7th, 2011 saw the start of the second qualifying round of the Rogers Cup 2011, Toronto, Canada. At the Rexall Centre in York University the match was placed on hard courts the Slovenian Polona Hercog was
contesting Heather Watson from Great Britain. Hercog bounced back from a set down to secure a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.
Watson who is currently ranked as world number 104 threw zero aces and 1 double fault hitting the net. While her opponent had managed to serve an ace but failed to keep her precision and committed 2 net balls.
The 19-year-old Watson had a powerful serve which won her 16 out of 20 service points, making it a grand 80% win against her opponent who mustered an average 50% in the total service points of the first set.
Watson’s total return points were 13 out of 26 which were a prolific 50% of her total return points and were more than double her opponent’s.
Amidst the first set, the Briton’s defence did not fail her and she did not allow the 20-year old Slovenian (Hercog) a single break point opportunity, instead capitalized on 67% of her rival’s break points. While, Hercog was only
able to save 1 break point out of the 3 on her serve.
The world number 40 Hercog lost the set with twelve points fewer than her British opponent in the first set.
After taking a beating in the first set, the Slovenian had learnt her lesson and made a comeback and even though her accuracy failed her once with a line fault, she was managed to win 58% of her total service points along with
an above average return which won her 54% of total return points, thus giving a total 56% win to overcome her 19-year-old opponent.
Although, the Slovenian had six break points on her serve, she was capable to save 5 break points, hence, allowing a single break point opportunity to her opponent and was able to broke her opponent thrice. Whereas, the British
defence had failed Watson and she only able to save 5 out of the 8 break points.
The two had a set each by the end of the second set and this time it was a battle for a place in the main qualifying draw of the event, with Hercog just able to make the cut with eleven more points than her opponents.
Having won the second set boosted the Slovenian’s performance and this time she was able to perfect her serve, throwing zero double faults and smashing 2 aces, whereas, the 19-year-old Briton was able to smash an ace and hit one
line fault.
The 20-year-old with her expertise saved all her break points, making it a 100% save and broke her opponent twice, whereas, Watson saved 3 of the 5.
Polona Hercog qualified to the main draw of the Rogers Cup 2011 in two hours and 21 minutes by accomplishing 67% of total service points and achieving 58% of total points.
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