Yi-Miao Zhou downs Daria Gavrilova to enter round two – Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge 2012
Chinese challenger, Yi-Miao Zhou, battled past the Russian contender, Daria Gavrilova, in a three-set thriller at the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge 2012 on Monday. She summed up a 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-0 victory against the 18-year-old to progress into the second
round at this ITF (International Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The 21-year-old stayed focused throughout the battle, eventually carving out the victory in almost two and a half hour. Battling each other for the first time, Zhou convincingly advanced into the round 16 at this outdoor hard court tournament taking place
from 26th November to 2nd December.
Zhou made a convincing entry at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa. She smoothly held her entire serves after brushing off both breakpoints she came across. The Chinese failed to capitalise on any of her break chance but dominated in the tie-breaker,
eventually sealing the opener with a 7-6(2) win.
The Russian teenager re-focused her strategy in the proceeding set. She swiftly kept her entire serves with conviction. Gavrilova got the breakthrough in the last game and clinched the equaliser with a 6-4 score line. The Russian brushed off the only breakpoint
she faced and converted one out of three break chances to her advantage.
Ranked 197th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Ranking, Zhou went berserk in the final set. She reeled off all six games through brilliant forehands and backhands from her box of gear. The Chinese was never challenged with any barrier
and cashed all three break chances to pocket the decider with a bagel.
Zhou is coming off from second round appearance at the Royal Indian Open (bowed out to fifth seed Kimiko Date-Krumm). She also reached round of 16 at the HP Japan’s Women Open last month.
Up next for the Chinese is the winner of the match between top seed Irina-Camelia Begu and the Montenegro lucky loser, Danka Kovinic.
The Czech contender, Karolina Pliskova, will join the Chinese in the following round. She stunned fourth round Jana Cepelova in straight sets to set up this meeting.
Tags: