Yulia Putintseva slays Eugenie Bouchard to reach the Girls’ Singles final – Australian Open 2012
Fourth seed, Yulia Putintseva, trounced the Canadian youngster, Eugenie Bouchard, with a breadstick at the Australian Open 2012 on Friday. She registered a 7-5, 6-1 score line against the world number 305 to book a spot in the title-round at this first of the four Grand Slam event taking place on the hard courts in Melbourne, Australia.
Ranked 206th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Putintseva crushed her opponent in their first meeting at the Melbourne Park. She assertively advanced into the final round of the tournament after earning victory in two-hour long battle.
The Russian starlet nervously stepped on court number three and suffered the first blow in the second game, subsequently trailing at 0-3. However, she not only recovered later but broke Bouchard’s serve again in the ninth game to take the lead by 5-4. Regardless of levelling the scores again in the tenth game, Putintseva wiped out the last two games and sealed the opener by winning seven games to five in 74 minutes.
The 17-year-old went berserk in the last set and went on a four games killing spree before the Canadian could hold on. She maintained her intensity afterwards and stroke out the last two games, ultimately bagging the set with an exceptional 6-1 score line.
Overall, Putintseva clobbered a better first serve share of 61 percent in contrast with the Canadian’s 55 percent and superbly clinched 27 out of 41 points on it. She also fired five ferocious aces and hammered five winners.
The Russian will advance to confront the 14th seed, Taylor Townsend of America, who fended off early resilience to earn a straight set victory over her fellow citizen, Krista Hardebeck.
The seeded American exchanged a break in the opening set and dragged it to a tie-breaker. She then dominated in the tie-breaker and pocketed the opener with a 7-6(3) win.
Townsend lost her ways in the last set but after exchanging two serve breaks, she capitalised on another break opportunity in the last game and won the set with a 6-4 score line.
Summing up the seed performance, Townsend took full advantage of the several unforced errors and double faults her compatriot committed and finished the match with 70 points.
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