Simona Halep troubles Svetlana Kuznetsova in the main draw – Rogers Cup 2011
Romanian Simona Halep outplayed Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in two hours, fourteen minutes and 43 seconds by bouncing back from a set down to lock her place in the second round of the Rogers Cup 2011 with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win at
the Rexall Centre in York University, Toronto, Canada.
This year the two met at the Sony Ericsson Open-Miami for the first time on the hard courts of Tennis Center at Crandon Park, Florida. The world number 15 won their initial meeting with a bagel and 6-4 victory and also led their
head to head with 1-0. The second time they met was on Monday at this event but to the Mercy of the Higher Power Halep was able to equalize the head to head 1-1.
Commencing the first set was Kuznetsova who smashed two aces and struck one double fault, while Halep was not able to smash an ace and struck 2 extra net balls than her opponent’s.
Both the players were able to save only two break points each but the Russian was able to bag one break point in comparison to her opponent who won none.
Although, both the players had a strong serve, along with a mediocre return, the 26-year-old Kuznetsova gained an upper hand because of the single break point, making it a 3 point more victory than her Romaine opponent.
Following the first set, to the crowds surprise Kuznetsova performed poorly, it seemed the prayers of Halep’s fans were granted and she found a new resoluteness.
Halep asserted more power into her serves which promoted her performance and she bagged 6% more points in her total service points as compared to her first set and she also threw fewer double faults, limiting herself to only one
line fault.
Although, she not perfect her defence she still was capable of bagging a 100% of her break points along with, saving 67%. In addition, her return serve had also seen an improvement and won 5% more points against her Russian opponent,
who managed to win only 33% of total return points.
As Halep bagged this set with a total set score of 53%, both the players tied on their set scores, the third set was the determining factor.
One would’ve excepted the total difference between the overall set score of the players would see a difference of a point or two, however, that was not the case and like a bolt from the blue Halep won the set with a good 9 more
points than Kuznetsova.
Across the board; Halep had won 58% of her total service points along with, 56% of her total return points and thus had a 57% win in her total set points. Although, she was unable to save the three break points on her serve she
was able to break her opponent three times.
The world number 55 troubled the Russian number twelve seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and managed to qualify into the second round of the Rogers Cup 2011.
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