Vesna Dolonts defeated Alona Bondarenko in the first round – Baku Cup 2011
Kicking off on the 18th July 2011 was the first round of Baku Cup 2011 between the Russian, Vesna Dolonts and the Ukrainian, Alona Bondarenko at the Baku Tennis Academy, Baku, Azerbaijan. Vesna Dolonts won the match
in a run of the mill victory of 6-3,6-3.
Not meeting for the first time both the players were familiar with each other’s style and technique. The last time they had taken up the gauntlet was at the Kharkov tournament in Ukraine. Due to the large support of the fans at
home Alona won the match 6-1, 6-1 at the Kharkov tennis centre. Hence, taking a lead of 1-0 in the head to head against Vesna. The Higher Power had granted Vesna her wish which was to avenge her loss.
Dolonts serving first; has struck three double faults, it was as if her serve was magnetically drawn to the net, throwing two double faults on the net and one as a line fault she wasn’t the one to give up easily and hung in the
game. She had a good first serve winning fifty nine percent of her first points she stood her ground however when it came to her return game it was as if she lost her balance and fell flat on her face with attaining only thirteen percent of her first return.
From there onwards it was falling into the abyss. Her defence was very poor and was not able to win any break points to her advantage. On the contrary her opponent was not to give her the lead and like a brick wall pounced on all the shots that Alona threw
at her drumming her in the face she (Vesna) won the match with an overall win of fifty six percent in her total set points and hence leading the score board 1-0.
The second set of the match saw Vesna serve first; although neither of the players was able to smash an ace, both of them hit one double fault each. The match was a close duel between both the players however, Vesna had an upper
hand because of an excellent return game, and she bounced everything that came her way. On the contrary, Alona had won two out of three break points but gave the match into her opponents hand by serving eight break points and only managing to save four along
with a very poor return game thus losing in the total set points by nine points. Vesna won the set and the match 2-0.
The 21-year-old Russian finally set the head-to-head score as a tie and now will be facing either her compatriot Ksenia Pervak or Noppawan Lertcheewakarn from Thailand in the second round of the Baku Cup 2011.
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