Lisicki advances in New Zealand
Source: Agencies |
January 3, 2012, Tuesday
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TOP-SEED Sabine Lisicki roared back from a 0-2 deficit in the second set to overpower France's Virginie Razzano 6-4, 6-4 and advance to the second round of the Auckland Classic yesterday in New Zealand.
The world number 15 had comfortably romped through the first set but found herself down a break in the second and Razzano serving to go 3-0 ahead.
The 22-year-old German, however, rallied with some blistering returns of serve and groundstrokes to break Razzano and then win the next three games in quick succession to seize control of the match.
Lisicki, who was troubled with injury at the start of 2011 but recovered to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon and finish the year inside the top-20 for the first time, showed some signs of rust with her serve, giving up seven double faults.
"I lost a bit of concentration there but I kept going and its fine for the first match," Lisicki said. "It's the first match of the year, and I was struggling a little bit with my serve.
"But it means I still have to work on a few things and that's good that way. I can still improve."
Fourth-seed Flavia Pennetta, a beaten finalist on the Auckland hard courts in 2010, also advanced to the second round after she was forced to battle against Romania's Sorana Cirstea.
The Italian eased through the first set but found the battling Cirstea far tougher to break down in the second as the Romanian forced a tiebreak, in which she held a 3-1 lead, before Pennetta rallied to secure a 6-4, 7-6 victory.
New Zealand wildcard Sacha Jones lost to Briton Elena Baltacha 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. The 21-year-old Jones gave the crowd hope by winning the second set, but ultimately lost.
Baltacha advanced to meet Pennetta.
The tournament lost its major draw Venus Williams less than two weeks ago through illness.
The world number 15 had comfortably romped through the first set but found herself down a break in the second and Razzano serving to go 3-0 ahead.
The 22-year-old German, however, rallied with some blistering returns of serve and groundstrokes to break Razzano and then win the next three games in quick succession to seize control of the match.
Lisicki, who was troubled with injury at the start of 2011 but recovered to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon and finish the year inside the top-20 for the first time, showed some signs of rust with her serve, giving up seven double faults.
"I lost a bit of concentration there but I kept going and its fine for the first match," Lisicki said. "It's the first match of the year, and I was struggling a little bit with my serve.
"But it means I still have to work on a few things and that's good that way. I can still improve."
Fourth-seed Flavia Pennetta, a beaten finalist on the Auckland hard courts in 2010, also advanced to the second round after she was forced to battle against Romania's Sorana Cirstea.
The Italian eased through the first set but found the battling Cirstea far tougher to break down in the second as the Romanian forced a tiebreak, in which she held a 3-1 lead, before Pennetta rallied to secure a 6-4, 7-6 victory.
New Zealand wildcard Sacha Jones lost to Briton Elena Baltacha 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. The 21-year-old Jones gave the crowd hope by winning the second set, but ultimately lost.
Baltacha advanced to meet Pennetta.
The tournament lost its major draw Venus Williams less than two weeks ago through illness.
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