Vera Zvonareva steamrolls Stephanie Foretz Gacon in 1st round – US Open 2011
Returning finalist Vera Zvonareva collided with Stephanie Foretz Gacon in the main draw of the US Open on Monday night. The two battled on the Louis Armstrong Stadium of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing
Meadows, New York. In simply 63 minutes of play, the second seeded Zvonareva triumphed in straight sets of 6-3, 6-0.
Both the players had previously met on clay courts of the French Open in 2008. During the first round Zvonareva thrashed Gacon in straight sets of 6-2, 6-1 and had taken the lead in their head-to-head.
This was their second meeting and a chance bestowed upon Gacon to upset the world number 2 Zvonareva. However, that was not only wishful thinking but also a near impossible feat to achieve.
Opening the first serve was Zvonareva who was unable to win the first game, instead it was Gacon who broke her opponent and opened the score card to 0-1. Although, the crowd hung on to their chairs as Gacon was about to serve but
they all relaxed when Zvonareva broke Gacon and gave her a taste of her own medicine. In the third game Zvonareva won on her serve and in the fourth again broke her opponent to 3-1 lead. In the following two games both the players won on their serve but in
the seventh Gacon finally tried to make a comeback by breaking her adversary but keeping the lead Zvonareva broke her in the eighth game to see an en-route in the ninth.
During the first set, although, Zvonareva had struck one double fault, she had displayed a beautiful performance by rallying 12 winners against her opponent and set the tone for the second set.
As the two players walked back on the stadium, the crowd applauded and roared for them and this time it was Gacon who was serving first. A reversal of fortune had occurred and Gacon was unable to win the first game instead, Zvonareva
opened the score card at 0-1 and then went on to breaking her opponent in every serve, along with winning all her points on her own serve she saw a flawless victory of 6-0.
With a sturdy defence she did not let her opponent break her even once and with a sagacious placement of the ball she was able to rally 7 winners. Being the stronger player of the two Zvonareva was swiftly able to secure a berth
in the second round of the US Open.
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