Maria Kirilenko Won Against Alberta Brianti
Maria Kirilenko was the top seed in action on Monday, and to say her match was unusual and dramatic would be an understatement.
PATTAYA, Feb 7 –The third seeded Russian swept the opening set against Italian Alberta Brianti 6-0, but then fell behind 5-0 in the second. Certainly Brianti was much more aggressive in the second set, but at least part of the reason for the huge turnaround was revealed when Kirilenko asked for the trainer. She received attention to her left leg, and when play resumed Kirilenko played her way back into contention.
She broke for 1-5, held for 2-5 while saving three set points, broke again for 3-5 and held for 4-5 saving another set point. But Brianti finally served out the set at her third attempt to claim it 6-4. In the final set, Kirilenko got the breakthrough she needed by breaking for 3-1 and she went on to take the set with ease, 6-2.
“In the second set she was hitting a lot of slice and I had to keep getting down very low. I have a problem with my knee and it began to hurt to I got the trainer to have a look,” Kirilenko explained. äfter that I was able to play better again.”
There was a battle of the ages as 19-year old former Wimbledon junior champion Noppawan Lertcheewakarntook on one of the oldest players on the WTA Tour, 36-year old American Jill Craybas. The Thai wild card began well by winning the first six points, but her serve malfunctioned in the third game and that helped Craybas break back for 1-2.
Although ‘Nok’ played well throughout the match, striking some powerful groundstrokes, she failed to find the consistency she need to really place Craybas under sustained pressure. Her serve also continued to let her down at times, and experience won in the end as Craybas moved into the second round with a 6-3 6-3 victory.
Two Chinese players were in action, and both won. Sixth seed Shuai Peng came through what began as a tough battle with Yung-Jan Chan of Taipei, struggling to take the first set in a tiebreak by 10 points to eight but then sweeping the second set 6-0, and Shuai Zhang overcame Slovak Zuzana Kucova 6-4 6-2 to set up a possible second round clash with sixth seed Roberta Vinci.
The qualifying rounds were completed on Monday, with Thailand’s Nungnadda Wannasuk, Zarina Diyas and Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Republic’s Ksenia Palkina all moving into the main draw.
Report by: www.pentanglepromotions.com
Credit: Pattaya Daily News (www.pattayadailynews.com)
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