Serena Williams pounds Lucie Hradecka in first round – Western & Southern Open 2011
American Serena Williams crushed Czech Lucie Hradecka in the main draw of the Western and Southern Open 2011. On the hard courts of the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, Williams and Hradecka battled it out. This year’s
Rogers Cup titlist Williams won in straight sets of 6-3, 7-6(5) against the Czech (Hradecka) in 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Both the players had struck a double fault each in the opening set. However, Williams smashed four aces in one game and easily won it to take her lead and a competitive edge, while her rival hit 2 aces in the entire set.
The American had strong powerful strokes that won her an exceptional 79% of her total service points whereas, Hradecka was struggling to find her tempo and was unable to completely utilize her forearm which restricted her to only
60% of her total service points.
World number 31 (Williams) was volleying well placed drop shots against the Czech who was barely able to make a return on them and kept Hradecka on her toes. Williams won an average 40% in her total return points against Hradecka
who barely attained 6 out of 28 points, making it a pathetic 21% win in her total return points.
The home-girl dominated the world number 49 (Hradecka) and broke her opponent once, while, Hradecka was unable to break Williams’ serve even once during the entire set.
The 29-year-old (Williams) served her opponent the set by accomplishing a commendable 60% win in her total set points.
As Williams powered through the first set she set the tone for the second, however, Hradecka was not to give up that easily and forced a tie breaker, which of course she lost. The first set was a lovely play from Williams as she
eliminated Hradecka in just 35 minutes of play.
The second set saw Hradecka’s accuracy falter seven times, one would’ve thought she forgot to wear her spectacles, but this time she was able to break her opponent twice. Although, she had far too many unforced errors, showing
noticeable signs that she was intimidated by her opponent.
The American’s opponent was who was unable to reply back and hence, had an extremely poor return that won her only 16 out of 41 points, making it only 39% of her total return points, whereas, she herself was a powerhouse of unstoppable
shots aimed at her opponent,
The thirteen time grand slam winner (Williams) bagged the set with seven extra points than Hradecka’s. She won the second set and the main draw by accomplishing 61% of her total service points.
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