Sara Errani downs Chanelle Scheepers to keep her winning streak – Mutua Madrid Open 2012
World number 24, Sara Errani, stretched her winning streak to 16 after hunting down the South African veteran, Chanelle Scheepers, in the opening round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday. The unseeded Italian strained for two hours
and 21 minutes to settle the three-setter at 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, in her favour to clear the opening round of the coveted event in Madrid, Spain.
It was the third encounter between these two veterans and Errani extended her head-to-head lead to 3-0 over Scheepers. The 51st ranked South African posed some early resistance in the contest but gradually lost her steam
in the later parts of the match to provide an opening to the belligerent Italian opponent. Errani dropped the opening set of the match to fall on her back foot but regrouped immediately to reel off the following two sets to turn the tables on Scheepers in
style.
Errani delivered 77 per cent of her serve on target, clinching 47 out of 82 first serve points and breaking her opponent’s serve six out of 10 times en route to victory. Scheepers followed with four out of 12 serve breaks and 34
points on her first serve to finish on the losing side in the end. The South African had a better return game in the contest but couldn’t withstand Errani’s counter attack in the later parts of the match.
Scheepers registered three break points to claim the opening set at 6-4 but Errani came out firing at her in the very next set to gain her winning impetus. Scheepers squandered away three vital break opportunities and Errani broke
the South African serve in the fourth and eighth game to pocket the second set at 6-2.
Both contenders fought valiantly in the decisive third and an early trade of serve breaks was witnessed from both ends. Errani moved one step further and nailed a crucial break point in the fourth game, followed by a successful
serve hold to lead 4-1. She sustained her lead and held her remaining serves to finish off the match at 6-3 in her favour.
"It has been a very good year for me," Errani said. "I'm feeling good on the court and to win 16 matches in a row on clay, I'm very happy for that. I'm hoping to continue like this. I hope to make another good match with Agnieszka."
Errani will face the fourth seed Pole contender, Agnieszka Radwanska, in the second round of the Madrid Open.
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