Varvara Lepchenko shocks Shahar Peer to reach third round of Mutua Madrid Open: Tennis Special
American qualifier, Varvara Lepchenko, upset the Israeli number one, Shahar Peer, in straight sets at the Mutua Madrid Open 2012 on Tuesday. She formulated a 7-6(2), 6-4 victory against the Jerusalem native to power into the pre-quarters at this WTA (Women’s
Tennis Association) clay court tournament taking place in Madrid, Spain.
The American rising star put up a solid display of tennis to get the better of Peer for the first time in their third meeting. She not only avenged her loss at the Montreal WTA event six years ago but also lowered trail in the head-to-head series by 1-2
against the world number 53.
The Uzbekistan-born Lepchenko made a poor start at Park Manzanares and gifted away her opening serve to fall at 0-2. However she not only recovered in the fourth game but broke Peer’s serve again in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead. Regardless of losing
her proceeding two serves, Lepchenko snatched her break back in the last game and enforced a tie-breaker. She dominated in it before sealing the opener with a 7-6(2) success.
Ranked 77th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Lepchenko raised the bar of her game in the proceeding set. She earned the critical break in the third game and took a 3-1 lead. Apart from losing their edge in the eighth game, the American capitalised
on another break chance in the very next game and subsequently bagged the set with a 6-4 win.
All in all, Lepchenko was clearly the better one throughout the match. She showed tremendous defensive skills by blocking six out of 10 breakpoints she faced and cashed in five out of six break opportunities to earn the limelight. The American also clobbered
a better first serve share of 68 per cent as opposed to their rival’s 56 per cent and availed 34 out of 51 points on it.
Lepchenko reached the main draw after outshining at the qualifying competition of this WTA Premier Mandatory event.
"I'm pretty tired," Lepchenko commented after tumbling over the Israeli. "Everybody's been playing two matches and I've played five now! But it will be really good to get a day off tomorrow."
The high-spirited American crushed the local wild card entrant, Sara Sorribes Tormo, with a breadstick in her opening qualifying match. She then jolted down the local qualifying seed, Laura Pous-Tio, in straight sets to book a place in the main draw.
The 25-year-old American is bidding for her maiden WTA career title at this tournament. She stunned a former French Open titlist, Francesca Schiavone, in her opening round match to meet Peer.
Next up for the left-handed American is the Spanish number one, Anabel Medina Garrigues, who rallied past Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in three sets to progress. Lepchenko needs to stay focus against the top local star who has support of the crowd. She should
also quickly overcome breakpoints she faces against the Spanish veteran.
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