Shahar Peer trounces Polona Hercog to reach second round – Mutua Madrid Open 2012
Israeli number one, Shahar Peer, took down the Slovenian contender, Polona Hercog, in straight sets at the Mutua Madrid Open 2012 on Sunday. She jolted down a 6-3, 7-5 victory against the 21-year-old to power into the second round at this clay court tournament which is part of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Tour 2012.
Peer dominated throughout the match at this WTA Premier Mandatory event and eventually dumped the world number 37 for the fourth straight time. After earning this success in one hour and 31 minutes, the Israeli not only inched closer towards her sixth career title but also secured a place in the round of 32.
The 25-year-old thundered into the Park Manzanares and drew the first blood in the opening game. She then swiped in her entire serves after dusting away both breakpoints she faced. Peer capitalised on another break chance in the last game and clicked the opener by winning six games to three.
Ranked 53rd in the WTA Premier Rankings, Peer kept momentum sailing into the second set and held her entire serves with conviction. She got the breakthrough in the last game and clinched the set with a 7-5 score line. The Israeli brushed off the lone breakpoint she came across and capitalised on one out of four break opportunities to earn the fame.
All in all, Peer fired two aces and produced a better first serve share of 68 per cent as opposed to the Slovene’s 62 per cent. She also tremendously availed 32 out of 44 points on it and found 10 break chances to rule the match.
Up next for Peer is the American qualifier, Varvara Lepchenko, who stunned the 11th seed, Francesca Schiavone, in a three set thriller to set-up this battle. Lepchenko warded off 10 out of 12 breakpoints she encountered and capitalised on four out of 13 break opportunities, consequently manipulating a 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3 score line in two hours and 44 minutes. The world number 77 hammered eight vicious aces and superbly clicked 67 out of 94 points on her first serve share to steal the show. She also took full advantage of six double faults Schiavone committed.
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