Vera Zvonareva outsmarts Sabine Lisicki; advances into semi-final – Mercury Insurance Open 2011
Friday August 5th, 2011 saw the start of the quarter final of the Mercury Insurance Open 2011, Carlsbad, California. At the La Costa Resort and Spa, the match was placed and on hard courts the Russian Vera Zvonareva
was playing Sabine Lisicki for the third time. Zvonareva survived a mid match lapse to defeat the German Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
The last time they took up the gauntlet was in the second-round at Roland Garros where the Russian rallied past the German in three sets. Zvonareva leads with a 2-0 in their head-to-head and is the favourite to win their third
meeting at the Mercury Insurance Open 2011.
The world number 3 Zvonareva threw an ace and 1 double fault. While her opponent had a strong serve and was able to smash 3 aces but failed to keep her precision and committed 2 line faults.
Zvonareva’s ground strokes won her 18 out of 26 service points, making it a laudable 69% win against Lisicki who was struggling with her serve but still managed to win a 55% in the total service points of the first set.
The 26-year old (Zvonareva) had a strong back hand which enabled her to win an average 45% of her total return points, which were 14% more than her opponent's.
Amidst the first set, the Russian did not allow the 21-year old German (Lisicki) any break point opportunity, instead converted 2 of the 4 break points she faced. While, Lisicki was only able to save 2 break points out of the 4
on her serve.
The number 1 seeded Zvonareva triumphed with 7 points more than her German opponent in the first set.
Following her loss in the first set, the world number 25 (Lisicki) made a comeback and even though she did not perfect her accuracy, she was competent to win 65% of her total service points along with winning 43% of her total return
points, thus giving a total 55% win to overcome her 26-year-old opponent.
The German’s defence was not as clumsy as her opponent’s and as she did not allow a single break point advantage to her opponent instead broke her opponent twice. Whereas, the Russian defence faltered and was capable of saving
only 1 out of the 3 break point chances.
By the end of the second set the two had split sets embarked on a marathon one hour third set, with Zvonareva just able to make the cut as she needed five match points to close out the big-serving German.
Having lost the second set, the Russian served one ace, struck three double faults, and succeeded in attaining an exceptional 60% win in total service points against the 21-year-old German.
Attaining a 3-0 this week, the 26-year-old with her expertise saved 7 of the 8 break points and broke her opponent twice, whereas, Lisicki saved 3 break points and availed the only break point that she faced.
By accomplishing 50% percent of total return points and achieving 55% of total points, the Russian (Zvonareva) qualified to the semi final of the Mercury Insurance Open 2011 in two hours and thirteen minutes.
Vera Zvonareva will face Ana Ivanovic in the semi-final on Saturday the 6th of August 2011.
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