(Rank/Seed)
As I predicted, world number 45 Barthel took the final into her hands against (7/1) Errani, overcoming some nerves and her opponents resilience to win her biggest title 75 76(4).
1st Set
The first seven games went with serve, until Barthel broke for a 5-3 lead. Then, she got nervous, failing to serve out before ultimately breaking a second time to take the set.
2nd Set
After trading breaks early on, Barthel used her big hitting to establish a seemingly insurmountable 5-2 lead. However, the nerves once again gripped the German who suddenly tried to hit and rush the net. This was a bad move, as Errani passed brilliantly and hung in there to level up again. As in the first set, Barthel then was able to hit more freely again, at least until she had two match points up 6-5. When Errani saved the first on a forehand winner after an epic rally and then Barthel fluffed the second, it looked destined for a third. Typical of the match though, Barthel balanced her emotions when level once again and though she would see a third match point slip away on yet another Errani forehand winner, she sealed it with a 53rd winner of her own to claim her second career title. Errani got some redemption; winning her second straight doubles title with Roberta Vinci.
(15/2) Kirilenko outlasted another German, Lisicki, 57 61 76(1) to make up for a heart breaking loss in the final of Pattaya City last year. It took over two and a half hours to win, as Kirilenko let a 5-2 40-15 third set lead become a 5-6 deficit, with the big serving German serving for it! However, Kirilenko then won 11 of the last 12 points to win her first title since 2008!
No comments:
Post a Comment