Vera Zvonareva overthrows Tsevtana Pironkova in 2nd round – Toray Pan Pacific Open 2011
Former world number two Vera Zvonareva needed only one hour and twenty two minutes to throw out unseeded Bulgarian Tsevtana Pironkova in the second round of Toray Pan Pacific Open 2011. The two took up the swords on outdoor hard
courts at Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan. Fourth seeded Zvonareva was a 7-5, 6-0 winner against Bulgarian Pironkova on Tuesday the 27th of September.
Russian Zvonareva opted to serve for the opening set as she had won the service pitch. Both the players were able to hold serve for the initial two games and successfully rolled the score board at 1-1. In the third game Pironkova
was first to break and by holding her serve in the next she was now leading with a break and game at 3-1.
Amidst the following six games, the game progressed smoothly and both the players were capable of holding their respective serves but in the tenth game Zvonareva broke Pironkova to bring back the score on even terms at 5-5.
The fourth seeded Russian then held her serve in the eleventh game and the crowd expected to see a tie breaker, however, that was not possible because Zvonareva was quick to bring the opening set to an end by smashing an ace on
advantage.
Although a tad difficult, Zvonareva was able to snatch away the opening set from Pironkova by smashing four aces and by minimizing the double faults.
Once the Russian had eased into the game, she was a barrage of drop shots and winners. Serving for the second set was Zvonareva and she comfortably opened the scoreboard to 1-0 by winning on her serve. She then took up an assertive
style of play and was in no mood of a cat and mouse chase. Breaking early in the second game she capitalized on a mini break to lead the score 2-0.
By the end of the third game she had capitalized on the mini lead as she then broke her opponent again in the fourth and was now able to secure her lead at 4-0. Amidst the following two games the fourth seeded Russian proved to
be a stronger player. As she not only held her serve but broke Pironkova for the third and last time to secure a bagel set victory.
The number four seeded Russian was able to secure a place in the third round of the event where she will be facing Iveta Benesova or Dominika Cibulkova.
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