Struggling Barbora Strycova loses to Mona Barthel in second round – e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open 2011
German qualifier Mona Barthel caused a big upset at the e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open hard-court tournament on Wednesday by beating the fifth-seeded Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in straight sets 7-6(2), 6-4 in the second round of the
tournament.
The second round encounter between the 25-year-old Strycova and the 20-year-old Barthel featured nine breaks of serve in two sets that together lasted more than two hours. The fifth-seeded Strycova was desperately
fighting, while for the most part of the match the German qualifier had a small but valuable advantage. Something was constantly missing in Strycova's game and Barthel moved into the quarterfinals of the high-profile e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open in straight sets.
Both players held and traded breaks of service but it was Strycova who had the opportunity to clinch the set at 6-5. But an impressive and brilliant hold from the German denied Strycova the chance to draw one step closer to victory.
In the tiebreak it was Barthel who came out as the victor giving away just 2 points. Even though Strycova forced a tiebreak, her troubles came to an end as Barthel made her way into the quarterfinals.
The second set had gone by in the blink of an eye as Strycova's ship was sinking fast. Being already down at 2-4, Strycova was about to make a very early exit from this year’s e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open but, being the seeded player,
she was not going to go down easily as she fought against the ruthless Barthel to claim just two more games in an attempt to stay in the contest. Barthel's control and impressive heavy topspin sealed the match in just under an hour and fifty two minutes.
It was a very disappointing loss for Czech pro as she remained unable to beat the German qualifier in their very first encounter. If Strycova had beaten the German player it would have been a very nice opportunity for the Czech
to justify her top billing, but unfortunately she could not restrict the proceedings from German’s fiery forehands and allowed her to go one up in their head-to-head sequence.
Barthel wrapped up her second round victory by scoring a majority of points in every department of the game. She scored 59 percent on service, 51 percent on return and 55 percent on return. Furthermore, the German has also improved
her year-to-date win loss mark to 24/10 matches and has successfully entered the quarterfinals for the first time in her career.
Barthel will now face the winner of the clash between third-seeded Bethanie Mattek-Sands of America and Johanna Larsson of Sweden is settled.
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