Yuliya Kalabina battles past Kristina Barrois to enter round two – Ankara Cup 2012
In a duel between two qualifiers, Russia’s Yuliya Kalabina got the better of the German contender Kristina Barrois in a three-set nail-biter at the Ankara Cup 2012 on Tuesday. She summed up a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory against the German veteran to power into
the round of 16 at this indoor hard court tournament taking place from 17th to 23rd December in Ankara, Turkey.
The Russian starlet displayed exceptional skills to overpower Barrois in their second meeting. The contestants previously battled each other at the Estoril Open five years ago and after pocketing this match, she not only avenged her loss but also advanced
into the second round at the Ankara Tennis Center.
Kalabina made quick in-roads at this ITF (International Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event. She made a sloppy start and gifted away her opening serve. However, the Russian unleashed her skills and went on a four-game tear before Barrois could hold
on. Kalabina bagged the last two games and eventually clinched the opener with a 6-2 score line. She brushed off two out of three breakpoints she came across but capitalised on three out of five break opportunities to inch towards the victory.
The world number 256 rebounded in the following set. She smoothly held her entire serves after brushing off all three breakpoints she faced. Barrois got the breakthrough in the last game after cashing in the lone break chance and clicked the equaliser with
a 6-4 win.
Ranked 350th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Kalabina sought her early ascendancy in the final set. She suffered the first blow after losing her opening serve and eventually fell at 0-2. However, the Russian recovered
in the very next game and then held her remaining serves with conviction. She marked another break chance in the last game and pulled out the decider with a 6-4 score line.
Kalabina will face off the second seed, Monica Puig from Puerto Rico. The seed bounced back to outsmart Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Mervana Jugic-Salkic in a three-set thriller. She found her rhythm towards the end of the second set and eventually clicked the
match with a breadstick.
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