Wild card entrant Aleksandra Wozniak ousts Shahar Peer in the 1st round – Rogers Cup 2011
Continuation of the main draw of the Rogers Cup 2011 saw wild card entry Aleksandra Wozniak outsmart the world number 23 Shahar Peer in just 43 minutes, at the Rexall Centre in York University, Toronto, Canada. Wozniak secured
an impressive win of a bread stick and a bagel victory (6-1, 6-0) and safely secured a berth in the second round.
The Rogers Cup is a prestigious event played annually alternatively in the cities of Toronto and Montreal. The men’s event is held in Montreal during the odd numbered years, while the women’s tournament takes place in Toronto.
It is a premier 5 tournament on the Women’s Tennis Association, and is a Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals.
World No. 23 Shahar Peer, this year, comes into the tournament with a win-loss standing 18-15 and a recent third round performance at the Citi Open, where Peer lost the final against Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-2. The Israeli clocked
in her best performance of the year at Indian Wells where she defeated the world number five Francesca Schiavone in the third round before losing to the Belgian Yanina Wickmayer in straights sets.
The 23-year-old Canadian and wild card entrant Aleksandra Wozniak has had eighteen wins and eight losses this year. Her career high ranking was achieved on the 22nd of June 2009 which was number 21, but later she plummeted
to 150, which is also her current ranking. Her most notable performance this year was at Vancouver, where she won the final against Jamie Hampton defeating her 6-3, 6-1.
Although, during the first set of the match both the players did not hit an ace and had poor accuracy, however, Peer struck an extra double fault. Even though, Peer had targeted 61% of her first serves, she only won 45% in her
first serve and a deploring 14% in her second serve and hence was only able to bag 33% against the home-girl (Wozniak) who bagged a grand 74% win in her total service points.
The Israeli defence was deteriorating and barely managed to bag a 26% win in her total return points, whereas, the wild card entrant had a commendable 67% of her total return points and accomplished winning the set with an exceptional
70% win in the total set score.
Setting the tone for the second set, Wozniak broke her opponent three times and managed to save a hundred percent of her break points and hence, did not give a single break point opportunity to her opponent. The second set remained
pretty much a one sided play, with Wozniak winning an amazing 80% of her total return points, in stark contrast to Peer’s 33% and sealed the set with a a surprising 6-0 victory.
After coming out victorious, Wozniak said, "I was trying to dictate from the very first ball of each point, and I don't think she was able to find her rhythm today. I tried to stay on her and have it under control. I was really
trying to wait for the right ball and play aggressive."
Wozniak upset the top seeded Shahar Peer and sailed through to the second round where, she will be facing Samantha Stosur.
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