Victoria Larriere battles past Zuzana Kucova into second round – Tashkent Open 2011
French qualifier Victoria Larriere bounced back from a set down to do away with Slovak Zuzana Kucova in their first round match at the 2011 Tashkent Open. The Frenchwoman laboured for almost one hour and forty five minutes to secure
a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win for herself.
The Slovak won the flip of the coin and opted to serve first. Off to a comfortable start, both players managed to put themselves on the scoreboard as they held on their openers. However, from there on things started to heat up
as the pair exchanged back-to-back breaks. Serving out the seventh game with ease, Kucova broke her opponent in the eighth game to lead the set 5-3. Losing no points in the ninth, the unseeded Slovak was able to serve out the set to go one up in the set score.
Managing an impressive 59 percent win on her 68 percent first serve in comparison, Kucova bagged the first set 6-3 win zero aces and one double fault. Recording similar stats as her opponent, Kucova’s lucky break for a set lead
was the lone double fault by the French in the eighth game that the Slovak capitalised on.
Maintaining her form, Kucova came out firing in the second set. Clinching an early break, the Slovak led the set 2-0. However, trailing 2-3 the French qualifier snatched back the break as levelling the game at three games each.
Another combination of a successful hold of serve and breakpoint in the eighth game, left Larriere serving for the set at 5-3. Though she wasn’t able to capitalise on her service game, an exchange of break later Larriere had clinched a 6-4 win, levelling the
set score to one a piece.
Having found her footing, Larriere continued her dominance over the higher ranked Slovak. Clinching an early break, Larriere led the set 4-1. Continuing to win on her serve and then another break opportunity later, Larriere clinched
a breadstick win to ensure her survival at the event.
Larriere moves on ahead to play either wildcard entrant Nigina Abduraimova or fifth seeded compatriot, Magdalena Rybarikova.
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