Sara Errani survives scare in the opening round of the French Open – Tennis Special
Italian tennis ace, Sara Errani, stayed focused and survived a scare against the Aussie professional star, Casey Dellacqua, to reach the second round of the Roland Garros French Open on Sunday. She lost the opening set but bullied
her way back into the contest with thumping triumphs in the following two sets. Final scores were 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in her favour.
It was the third encounter between these two players and head-to-head scores were tied at 1-1 at the start of this match. However, the 108th ranked Aussie had registered a win in Strasbourg 2008 and a lot had changed
after that.
Errani has been in a terrific run of form this season. She has already clasped three titles this season in Acapulco, Barcelona and Budapest; out of these three, she also won the doubles crown in two of the tournaments. So, it has
been an amazing season so far for the Italian tennis ace and her clay court performance this year has been one of the best.
The 25-year-old Italian started the opening set in thumping fashion; winning an early breakthrough to take a lead of 2-0. However, she squandered the lead in the following three games; losing two breakpoints. Scores were tied at
3-3.
Dellacqua was running away with the show and looked a better player of the two. She won another breakthrough to take a lead in the seventh game and kept the lead intact until the end of the set. Suddenly, the Italian’s clay court
dominance in the season was on the verge of being flushed away by the minnow.
A double trade of breakpoints at the start of the second set witnessed some cracking play. However, the momentum was swirled in the favour of the 21st seed Italian when she bagged the first serve hold of the set in the
fifth game. She ousted the Aussie contender with four cracking winners in the following game and held her serve to take a lead of 5-2.
Dellacqua had dominated the whole match until the midst of the second set but fell miserably afterwards. She couldn’t hold her serve once in the second set and squandered the set lead. It was something that was missing from the
Errani’s game in the first set; complete demolition.
Stage was set for another cracking battle but the shake of head by the Aussie starlet at the end of the second set told the whole story. She lacked confidence in the final set and sunk to an early trail courtesy to a breakthrough
for the Italian in the fourth game.
The Aussie drowned to a trail of 1-5 but saved the set for few more moments with a break back. However, she was unable to hold her serve and bowed down to the in-form Italian.
Sara Errani locks horns with the American star, Melanie Oudin, who received a wildcard to enter the tournament. It will be another exciting match but the Italian is expected to reach the third round with no tension at all.
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