RUSSIA LOSING OUT

Svetlana Kuznetsova’s countrywoman, Ekaterina Makarova, has been defeated by Polona Hercog in the second round of the China Open. Hercog won the match by 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(3). It was the third match between these two players and Hercog defeated Makarova for the first time.

The match went on for two hours and 48 minutes and two out of three sets went into the tie breaker.

In the opening set, Hercog got a breakthrough in the second game and she was ahead by 3-0 at the end of the third game. But, Makarova made a comeback and won four out of the next five games to level the scores. The next four games went with the serve and the set went into the tie breaker. In the tie breaker, the Slovenian player played slightly better than Makarova and won the first set.

In the second set, Makarova started brilliantly and broke Hercog’s service in the second game to get ahead by 2-0. She maintained the lead till the end of the set and sealed the second set by 6-3.

In the final set, Makarova was ahead by 5-2 at one point of time. But, all of a sudden, she lost the momentum. Her service was broken twice in the next five games and the scores were tied at 6-6 at the end of the 12th game. The set was extended into the tie breaker again. Makarova didn’t manage to hold her nerves and lost the tie breaker again.

After winning the match, Hercog said, “It was a very close contest and I am delighted that I end up on the winning side. The pressure was huge in the tie breaker of the final set. Fortunately, I made a good start in the tie breaker and pulled off the victory.”

In the third round, Hercog will take on Maria Sharapova. When asked about that match, Hercog said, “Sharapova is in fantastic form at the moment and it will be very tough for me to go past her. I am looking forward to that match. Hopefully, I would put up a special performance on Thursday.”

On the other hand, Makarova was gutted with her performance. The Russian player said, “It certainly hurts if you lose the tie breaker in the final set of the match. I am hugely disappointed at the moment. Hercog soaked up the pressure better than me and that’s why, she won.”

AZARENKA BEATS SHARAPOVA

Svetlana Kuznetsova’s countrywoman, Maria Sharapova, has been defeated by Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the semi final of the US Open at the Flushing Meadows. With this victory, Azarenka has qualified for the finals. The Belarusian player had to work hard for this victory. She was under huge pressure after losing the first set, but, after that, she played some high quality tennis and stunned Sharapova. Azarenka won the match by 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Sharapova, who was given the third seed in the competition, was off to a flyer in the first set. She broke the service of her opponent in the second game and win the first three games in a row to make the score 3-0. The next five games went with the serve and the score card was saying 5-3 in the favour of Sharapova at the end of the eighth game. Azarenka had to prevent Sharapova from holding her service in the ninth game to extend the set. But, Sharapova was in a mood of finishing the set quickly. She served out the ninth game easily and won the first set by 6-3.

In the second set, Azarenka looked a different player. She was playing her shots more fluently. She got ahead in the second set by 3-1. She got this lead by breaking Sharapova’s service in the third game and then, serving out the next game. Both the players held their service in the next two games. Azarenka got the second breakthrough of the set in the seventh game. She didn’t have any problem in holding her service in the next game and thus, winning the set.

In the third and final set, both the players played well and didn’t give each other many opportunities. Sharapova didn’t get any breakpoint; while, Azarenka got only one breakpoint which she latched on to take a lead in the set. She maintained her lead till the end of the match and won the match. In the final match, Azarenka will play against the American superstar Serena Williams.