Sofia Arvidsson beats Maria Jose Sanchez to reach the semi-finals –Swedish Open 2011
The quarterfinal match between Sofia Arvidsson and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez had the potential to be a great match, an early three set match, but it almost was not. The Swede took time warming up and finally finding her way into
the match but eventually walked away with a 4-6, 7-6(8), 7-6(3) score line.
Arvidsson came out playing passively and seemingly satisfied to just send the ball back in the court. She seemed to lack any intensity and looked flustered by the warm and humid weather and as a result was broken in the opening
set with four games to six.
After going down in the opener, Arvidsson was still lacking in many aspects of her game but showing good results, she managed to break back taking the second set into a tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker, Arvidsson seemed to hold
a little easier while Martinez Sanchez remained consistent like in the opener and waited for another error while continuing her own high level of play. With a tie-breaker under their nose, both women continued to battle hard before Arvidsson finally broke
and positioned herself for the set and forced the decider.
As the third set started, Arvidsson seemed to have settled as she broke for a 3-2 lead early in the third. Arvidsson then battled to hold serve against a relentless Spaniard who continued to push and fight the Swede all the way.
Martinez Sanchez was so consistent with the pressure that she managed to break back and taking the set in a tie-break.
As the second tie-break of the match arrived, Arvidsson managed to save five break points to continue dictating the play and pushing Martinez Sanchez around the court. And at 5-3 Martinez Sanchez found some brilliance and precision
that gave her the decisive match point after a great perfect lob and a forehand winner down the line, clinching the match in a three-set marathon.
Arvidsson wrapped up her victory with 58 percent of points behind her service, 39 percent of points on return and a total of 125 of 257 points in total
With this win, the 27-year-old Arvidsson has improved her year-to-date win/loss mark to 13/15 matches and has also polished her head-to-head score to 1-0 against the Spaniard.
She now races up to meet compatriot Johanna Larsson in the semi-final match here at Bastad, Sweden.
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