Sara Errani’s fairytale run at Roland Garros – Tennis Special
Italian star, Sara Errani, displayed superb skills and cruised into the final showdown at the Roland Garros 2012, second of the four Grand Slam events held in Paris, France. She registered upset victories over several seeded and top class players before
setting up a date with the reigning world number one, Maria Sharapova. She lost to Sharapova in troublesome straight sets but her impressive spell led everyone praise her.
Errani’s hard training and switching to a more powerful Babolat racquet in the off-season result a dream run at this prestigious clay court tournament. Before stepping into the French dirt, she conquered three clay court tournaments: Abierto Mexicano Telcel
in Acapulco (rallied past her compatriot Flavia Pennetta in the final), Barcelona Ladies Open (crushed Dominika Cibulkova in title-round) and Budapest Grand Prix (triumphed over Elena Vesnina in final round).
She was ousted in the second round from two of the WTA Premier tournaments, Mutua Madrid Open and Internazionali BNL D’Italia, held before the French Open. However, she surprised everyone after showing her exceptional skills and abilities in Paris.
Seeded 21st in the tournament, Errani made a sloppy start in her opening round match against Australia’s Casey Dellacqua and lost the opening set. However, she stayed focused and carved out the victory with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 score line.
Next in line was the American wildcard entrant, Melanie Oudin. The Italian carried her momentum registered a straight set victory after clobbering a better first serve shares and 20 winners.
She breezed into the third round where the former world number one, Ana Ivanovic, was waiting. Errani suffered a brutal breadstick in the opening set but sought her form near the end of the second set. She hammered fewer winners as compared to the top Serbian
but capitalised on Ivanovic’s 40 unforced errors, eventually sealing the deal with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory.
The 25-year-old’s skills were fully polished in her following match against the 26th seed, Svetlana Kuznetsova. She crushed the former Roland Garros titlist with a bagel to enter the final eight.
Errani high-spiritedly entered the quarters where 10th seeded Angelique Kerber awaited her. She maintained her intensity and upset the German number one in straight sets.
Next challenge for the high flying Italian was the reigning US Open champion, Samantha Stosur. The Italian endured a breadstick but sought her momentum again in the final set, subsequently clobbering a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 score line.
The in-form Italian entered the final showdown against second seeded Sharapova as a huge underdog. She did not find her rhythm until the fifth game when she came on the score sheet for the first time. Errani lifted her game in the second set but could not
overcome her nervousness. As a result, she bowed out the Russian icon in straight sets.
"I just want to say congratulations to Maria for the tournament and today," Errani was quoted in a post-match press conference. "I don't feel like Top 10, but I will be Top 10, and it's incredible for me. I really can't believe it. I'm so happy for everything
right now."
Apart from losing in the title-round, she will remember her superb run. Mustering her performance further, Errani conquered the doubles title with her compatriot, Roberta Vinci, at this major clay court tournament.
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