first of all, all the best to you from London. My hostel surprisingly has an internet hotspot, so I might even be able to post pictures daily (not today, I woke up at 4 a.m. German time, which meand 3 a.m. English one, I just want to sleep
) )
I arrived at the venue when Oormila was already 0-3 behind in second set, so there is no real chance to write some notes about her match - I am sorry. At least, I took some pictures of her - of course, as well as from Radhika...
Here is my report from Radhikas match:
Radhika TULPULE(IND) def. Birgit RITSCHKA (AUT) 26 64 63
The match started terribly for Radhika against WTA #1081 from Austria: two double faults made her mission nearly impossible in the first game, Radhika got broken and was 0-1 behind. On the other side of the net, the Austrian girl really looked great and showed some beautiful and powerful strokes, so BR did not have any problems at own serve for the first games. Radhika struggled with her first serve about all the match, which made her run in some trouble again and again - but she recovered after she had major problems winning the third game at own serve and played a nice match in first set. Unfortunately Radhika wasted a break point at 2:3 and lost the sixth game. The Austrian 19-year-old girl scored another break and won the first set quite easily - and apart from that, absolutely deservedly as RITSCHKA was the better player in this set and showed a very good performance.
After Radhika clean-swept BR at own serve in the first game of second set, she even seemed to have a minor chance to break when she was 15:30 in front at BR's serve - but the Austrian girl scored six points in a row which made BR tie the score and lead 0-40 at Radhika's serve. Out girl fought back and saved all three break points. After having the chance
to win the game twice, she comitted four more break points. Seven break points in one game altogether - Radhika asked Birgit just too much to take the chance in this one, so she was punished for it: 1-2, BR to serve now. The Austrian looked quite confident now and had now major problems with her serve. Radhika served at 1-3 now, but though
she got deuced, no need to worry, 2-3. In the next game, BR recovered from being 15-40 behind by scoring three in a row, but Radhika deuced the Ad in and got another break point by a beautiful lob shot. Time to take it - 3:3, the score was tied again. BR seemed to be able to keep pressure on Radhika, but our girl really improved massively now and showed several fantastic top spin shots. Radhika won the seventh game on own serve (by the way, first time she lead!). She looked worse again, when two aces and a smash error made BR win the eigth game to tie the score to 4-4, but Radhika showed an impressing fight now and converted the her second game point to get a 5-4 lead. You could really feel the Austrian's nervousity now - and Radhika took profit of it. 5-4, BR to serve, 15-40, double break/set point. Radhika converted the second one and tied the set score. She was just the better player now.
Like in second set, Radhika started the final set with a first-game-own-serve-clean sweep game. BR still seemed to worry about the loss of second set and made a double fault at 30-30 in the second game. Though
Radhika could not take advantage of the first break point, she got a second chance. This time, the break point was converted - and as Radhika had no problems at her next serving game which she even won by serving an ace, she was 3-0 in front. BR, who looked really confused before, showed a terrific comeback. She was 0-15 behind at own serve and scored - no joke - 12 (twelve!!!) points in a row, which made the scoreboard show 3-3 games, Radhika to serve. It must have been really tough for Radhika to serve now, especially as the Austrian kept enormous pressure on our girl - but Radhika was able to stand it and scored another service ace to get back the lead: 4-3. The Austrian lost
her line now completely and gifted Radhika a triple break point. Radhika took the second one - and shortly after the looked like loosing the match against a fantastic opponent, she served for the match. No more resistance now, Radhika took the victory in a fantastic match between two great competitors. While the Austrian showed more powerful strokes.
Radhika just comitted less errors except her first serve problems.
I will head to the Hampstead ground tomorrow again, hope to report from some matches from Ankita, Rushmi or Sanaa
then. Pictures will follow not before tomorrow evening, I am sorry....
All the best from London,
Florian
