Tennis Acumen

Grigor Dimitrov Halts Nick Kyrgios in Cincinnati, Wins First Masters 1000 Title

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Grigor Dimitrov wins the biggest title of his career at the Western & Southern Open.  Photo Courtesy: Christopher Johnson Grand Slam Magazine

Seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov defeated a red hot Nick Kyrgios 6-3 7-5 to win the Western & Southern Open and his first Masters 1000 title on Sunday.  The hard court win was his 24th this year on the surface, breaking a tie for the lead on the ATP Tour with Kyrgios, Roger Federer and Jack Sock.

Kyrgios had two chances to break the Bulgarian midway through the opening set and after he failed to capitalize on the opportunities, was broken in his next service game.  The in the second set, Kyrgios toed the service line at 5 games all, having hit 14 aces and a single double fault.  Yet he would double fault 3 times in the eleventh game alone and provided Dimitrov with an opportunity to serve for the title.  Last year's semifinalist did just that and hoisted the trophy shortly after winning the last game of the match.

After the match, Dimitrov shared the importance of breaking in the first set:  "I think the first set was very important, for sure. I thought he served pretty well."

Nick Kyrgios had a monster week at the Western & Southern Open.  Photo Courtesy: Christopher Johnson Grand Slam Magazine

Meanwhile, Kyrgios acknowledged the fact that he was spent as he served to stay in the match when I asked him what went wrong at the end:  "I was feeling it, to be honest. I was feeling it physically. I was pretty tired. I played a lot of matches this week. I haven't been used to that, to be honest.

You know, it's been my first week in a while where I have played, you know, five tough back-to-back matches, and obviously that day when I played two in one day was tough.

I was feeling it. I thought he definitely looked fresher out of the two of us. He's unbelievably fit. He trains very, very hard."

Dimitrov started the year with a stellar 16-1 record with titles in Brisbane and Sofia.  Kyrgios defeated Novak Djokovic in consecutive tournaments at the Acapulco 500 and the Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells.  The Aussie also took out Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals at the Miami Masters 1000.  

This year's finals edition of the Western & Southern Open featured two first time Masters 1000 finalists since 2002 in Toronto when Guillermo Canas defeated Andy Roddick.  With all of the injuries on the ATP Tour, perhaps it may not be another 15 years until two more first time Masters 1000 finalists meet for the title.

 

 

Simona Halep Closes in on World #1 Ranking in Cincinnati

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Simona Halep in action at the Western & Southern Open.  Photo Courtesy: Christopher Johnson, Grand Slam Magazine

Simona Halep was within two points of becoming world #1 last month.  On Saturday, she put herself in position to reach the WTA pole position with a 6-2 6-1 win over Wild Card American Sloane Stephens at the Western & Southern Open.  The Romanian plays 2017 Wimbledon Champion Garbine Muguruza for the Cincinnati title and if she wins, will become the 24th player to reach #1 in the women's game.

Halep needed just 55 minutes to defeat Stephens, who was playing in just her fourth tournament following foot surgery.  The relentless play by the current world #2 snuffed out any efforts by Stephens to get into the match as she won 34 of the last 32 points in sweeping the last five games of the match.

The Romanian headed into this semifinal as the only player yet to drop a set at the Western & Southern Open.  Although Stephens held serve to open the match, Halep also held and then proceeded to win the next four games as well to take a commanding 5-1 lead.  Following a Stephens hold, Halep closed out the set to win it 6-2.

Just as she did to open the match, Stephens held serve to begin the second set.  However it would be the last game that she would win as Halep steamrolled the rest of the way, winning 25 of the last 33 points in the final 5 games of the second set.

Halep attributed her sound play against Stephens to the fact that she played so well the day before in her win over Jo Konta:  "I think the match from yesterday gave me a lot of confidence, and since yesterday I started to feel the game, to feel like I can hit the ball.

So today was much better.  I moved very well today.  I just feel good.  That's maybe why I can play.  I have no pressure."

Regarding the Final against Muguruza, I asked Halep to elaborate on her game plan for the match: "If I stay with my plan, I have a better chance.  That's why I don't change anything for tomorrow (Sunday).  Just going the same like these days.

I know that she has a lot of confidence coming with title from Wimbledon, so she's favorite, in my opinion.  She's hitting the ball strong, but I already had two matches so I know how it's gonna come, the ball.  But still, I just want to do the same and not thinking about the result.  I just want to go there and enjoy moment."

With the Cincinnati title, Halep would become the new world #1.  A win would also be her 40th of the season and since Indian Wells, the Romanian has reached the quarterfinals or better in her last 10 tournaments.  The final will be played on Center Court beginning at 2 PM local time in Cincinnati.

 

 

Nick Kyrgios Wins Two Matches on Same Day, Advances to Cincy Semifinals

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

 Nick Kyrgios celebrating with most appreciative fans after a spectacular point against Ivo Karlovic.  Photo Courtesy: Christopher Johnson, Grand Slam Magazine

Due to excessive rain on Thursday at the Western & Southern Open, Nick Kyrgios, along with several other players had to play both their third round match and their quarterfinal matches on Friday.  The young Australia prevailed each time as he defeated Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 4-6 7-6(6) 6-3 and # 1 in the world to be Rafael Nadal of Spain 6-2 7-5.

Unlike some players, Kyrgios and Karlovic were indeed able to play some of their match on Thursday.  As play was stopped for rain the initial time, the score stood at 2-all.  Following the next delay, Karlovic led 4-3 as both players held serve each time.  Eventually at 11:10 PM, play was called for the night and a revised schedule was issued calling for doubleheaders to be played for the winners of fourth round matches.

Kyrgios would be broken for the only time against Karlovic as he served to stay in the first set at 4-5.  After the match he elaborated on the change of conditions: "Coming back today, had a very slow start.  It was very windy out there, so I couldn't get anything going on my serve."  

Nick Kyrgios frustrated by the game of Ivo Karlovic as the Croat celebrates a key point.  Photo Courtesy: Christopher Johnson, Grand Slam Magazine

There were no breaks of serve in the second set and Kyrgios would withstand 13 of the 28 aces that Karlovic would hit in the match in the middle set.  Each player held serve comfortable as none of the twelve games played reached deuce.  The Aussie won the final six points of the tiebreaker to win it 7-1 and level the contest at a set apiece.

On his third break point opportunity of the fourth game of the final set, Kyrgios would break the Croat in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead.  Each player continued to hold serve comfortably until the ninth game as Karlovic served to stay in the match.  Kyrgios was unable to convert either of the two break opportunities and then served out the match at love to advance to the quarterfinals in a 9 PM Center Court contest against Rafael Nadal, who will return to world #1 for the first time in three years on Monday.

Against Nadal, Kyrgios broke to start the match, held at love, broke at 30 and held at 15 to race to a 4-0 lead, winning 16 of the first 20 points played in the match.  Nadal would begin to settle into the match as each player held comfortable and Kyrgios took the opening set 6-2 in just 25 minutes.

Rafael Nadal, who will return to world #1 on Monday, getting fired up against Nick Kyrgios.  Photo Courtesy: Christopher Johnson, Grand Slam Magazine

Following a restroom break by Nadal between sets, the Spaniard attempted to slow the pace of the match and Kyrgios complied, taking significantly longer before serving.  Playing quickly as he prefers, or a slower style of play that was happening in the second set did not seem to matter each way for Kyrgios as he broke Nadal in the fifth game and then consolidated to take a 4-2 lead in the set.

As Nadal served to stay in the match at 3-5, the game reached deuce twice before the Spaniard sealed it with his fourth and final ace of the match.  Kyrgios would double fault a couple of times as he attempted to serve out the match and would be broken, given Nadal new life in the match.  However, Nadal would be broken at love and Kyrgios would serve out the match at 15 to advance to his first Masters 1000 semifinal in his promising career.

Next up for Kyrgios is the resurgent 35 year-old Spaniard David Ferrer, a finalist in Cincinnati three years ago. Kyrgios is aware of the potential dangers in playing Ferrer:  "It's going to be a tough battle.  He's a great competitor.....Looks like he's playing much better now than he was last year.  

I know that he's feeling confident.  To beat Dominic (Thiem) in straight sets....He's playing good tennis against good players.  I know it's going to be tough."  The match will begin at 7 PM and round out the day on Center Court a the Western & Southern Open on Saturday.  

Grigor Dimitrov Defeats Juan Martin del Potro For First Time in Six Attempts to Reach Cincinnati Quarterfinals

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Grigor Dimitrov finally solves Juan Martin del Potro in Cincinnati.  Photo Courtesy: Christopher Johnson, Grand Slam Magazine

Before he even took the court at the Western & Southern Open, Grigor Dimitrov  was the only seed remaining in his quarter.  Roger Federer, the #2 seed withdrew after an injury in the Montreal final on Sunday and was replaced by Lucky Loser Thomas Fabbiano.  Meanwhile, #10 seed Tomas Berdych was defeated by Juan Martin del Potro and #13 seed Jack Sock was upended by Yuichi Sugita in the first round.

 

Following his second round win over Feliciano Lopez, Dimitrov took the court on Thursday against Juan Martin del Potro for the first match of the day on Center Court. Del Potro advance to this third round encounter defeating American qualifier Mitchell Kruger in straight sets on Wednesday.  Heading into the match, Dimitrov had only managed to win just two sets in their five previous meetings as del Potro led the head to head 5-0.

 

Dimitrov, the #7 seed raced to a 3-0 lead as del Potro managed to win just two points in the opening two games and the Bulgarian snuffed out del Potro's efforts in the third game when it went to deuce by closing out that game with an ace.  Each player held serve for the remainder of the set, with the only threat of a break coming when Dimitrov served for the set.    The tall Argentine was not able to convert on a break point when he attempted to get the set back on serve and Dimitrov was one set away from his very first win over del Potro.

 

Juan Martin del Potro marched to leads of 3-0 and 4-1 in the second set before Dimitrov was able to break in the seventh game and then consolidate to square the set a 4-all.  After Delpo held to go to 5-4, the Argentine had two opportunities to break and win the second set but both times Dimitrov stymied him and closed the game with his eighth ace of the match.  During the eleventh game of the set, del Potro tightened up and it appeared that his left knee was suddenly giving him problems.  As he was hunched over, Dimitrov approached the net to see if he was OK, then the Bulgarian called for a towel to give Delpo a bit more time before he served.  This was certainly a nice gesture of sportsmanship from Dimitrov.

Juan Martin del Potro in agony late in the second set as he was very concerned about his ability to continue play.  Photo Courtesy: Christopher Johnson, Grand Slam Magazine

 

Dimitrov sensed an opportunity after the close call and broke del Potro in that eleventh game to put himself in position to serve out the match.  Despite getting down, 15-30, the Bulgarian won the final three points of the game to record his first win over the 2009 US Open Champion 6-3 7-5.

 

After the match, Dimitrov elaborated a bit on his gameplay against del Potro on his victory: "I definitely have to stay away a little bit from that forehand. I knew if I keep the ball low on his backhand side and just kind of work my way into the court, it would have been the right thing to do.

I think I did very, very well this thing today. The short slice really made him very uncomfortable, and he was giving me a lot of short balls so I can start moving him with my forehand. So it was also a bit of a mind game, because we know our game pretty well. We practice a lot. And, yeah, basically who's going to crack first.

Yeah, I was just pleased that at least I did -- the things I wanted to do today on the court, I did them very well. Yeah."

 

Next up for Dimitrov is Yuichi Sugita of Japan in the third match on Center Court.  Last year, the two met at the Canadian Masters 1000, with Dimitrov winning in three tight sets.

Camila Giorgi Defeats Daria Gavrilova, Will Play World #1 Karolina Pliskova For Place in Cincinnati Quarterfinals

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

 Camila Giorgi on her way to the 3rd round of the Western & Southern Open.  Pete Ziebron Images

Camila Giorgi continued her impressive run at the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday with a 7-6(1) 5-7 6-3 victory over world #26 Daria Gavrilova of Australia.  Including qualifying matches, the win was the fourth consecutive for the 25 year-old Italian.

Since April, Giorgi has defeated several top WTA players, including: #3 Karolina Pliskova in Prague, #15 Elena Vesnina in Strasbourg, #5 Elina Svitolina in Birmingham and #18 Madison Keys at Wimbledon.  Ironically, she will play Pliskova again today in Cincinnati for a place in the quarterfinals.  Pliskova is currently world # 1 and the defending Champion in Cincinnati.  

Not a single game in the opening set against Gavrilova went to deuce.  Giorgi was broken to begin the match and each player held serve in each of the next four games until the Aussie served for the set at 5-4.  The Italian was able to break at 15 and square the set at 5-all.  After each player held serve, Camila Giorgi would win the final 6 points of the opening set tiebreaker to win it 7-1 and take the set.

Midway through the opening set, Camila Giorgi was swinging freely and solidly connecting on forehands.  Gavrilova did well to defend the barrage of heavy shots but gradually the power game of Giorgi continued to pay dividends, especially in the final set.

In seven of the twelve games in the second set, the server was broken.  Giorgi's momentum continued early on as she recorded the first break of the set but was not able to consolidate.  Gavrilova held and then broke again for a 3-1 lead.  Three more breaks followed in the next six games and Giorgi was broken when serving at 5-6, denying the overflow crowd on Court 11 of another tiebreaker.

The beginning of the final set resembled the beginning of the previous set as each player was broken in their opening service game.  Gavrilova then had to dig deep as she recovered from a 0-40 start in the third game and won five consecutive points to take a 2-1 lead.  However the Aussie would manage to win just one more game in the match as Giorgi broke in the fifth game and again in the ninth game of the set to eventually prevail 6-3 in the final set.  

Despite the fact that Gavrilova was a perfect 6-6 in break point conversions, she was not able to get the win.  Sitting very close to Gavrilova's camp, I was able to see the frustration from Gavrilova and at one point in the final set she said to her camp "She just crushes it." referring to Giorgi's all out style of play.

The match lasted 2 hours and 35 minutes and was played in warm weather with high humidity, very typical of conditions in southern Ohio in mid-August.

In her last three matches, Camila Giorgi has defeated 2017 Wimbledon semifinalist and world #33 Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia,  world #42 Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic and world #26 Daria Gavrilova of Australia.  Giorgi's current form and apparent upward trajectory will be on display against world #1 Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic today on Court 3 in Cincinnati.

 

 

Aleksandra Krunic Defeats 2 Roland Garros Champions in Consecutive Matches in Cincinnati

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

 Aleksandra Krunic ran down EVERYTHING from Jelena Ostapenko in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images

The impressive run for Aleaksandra Krunic continues at the Western & Southern Open as the Serb won 12 of the last 15 games of the match to defeat 2017 Roland Garros Champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-4 6-2 in 81 minutes on Court 8 in Cincinnati on Tuesday.

The victory for Krunic over a Roland Garros Champion was the second in as many matches, as she also defeated Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 Roland Garros Champion on Sunday.

Jelena Ostapenko, the #12 seed, opened the match with a love game, then came back from  40-15 down on Krunic's first service game of the match to win four consecutive points to break.  Next, the French Open Champ held at 15 to march to a convincing 3-0 lead in the match.

What happened next may very well propel Aleksandra Krunic on to much bigger and better results in her career.  From 0-3, 0-40 down, Aleksandra Krunic would stage one of the more improbable comebacks of her career.  The Russian-born Serb opened the fourth game with a double fault and lost the next two points to go down 0-40.  At this point, Krunic had won just 4 of the 20 points played in the match and was in serious danger of going down a double break.

Krunic climbed back into the game by winning the next two points, leveled at deuce with an ace and won the next point to hold an advantage before Ostapenko was able to get the game back to deuce by winning the following point.  Krunic would then slam the door shut on the game with a pair of aces to get on the board in the match.

Ostapenko opened the next game with a double fault and managed to win just one point in the game as Krunic broke to get the set back on serve and proceeded to square the match a 3-3 in the next game despite reaching deuce twice.  The French Open Champ won the next game to lead 4-3 however Krunic held easily at love to take it to 4-all.

Serving at 4-4, 30-30, Ostapenko double faulted and Krunic pounced on the next point to break and serve for the opening set.  The following game reached deuce three times and Krunic saved two break points before eventually prevailing to win the first set 6-4.

Clearly not happy with the way she was playing, Jelena Ostapenko double faulted at 15-40 in the opening game of the second set.  However, it was the game of Krunic that was causing the majority of issues for Ostapenko in this opening round match.  The Serb simply got everything back in play and threw in the occasional drop shot to continue to keep Ostapenko off balance.  At one point in the second set, Ostapenko ran out of her adidas shoe attempting to get to a dropper.  

Following the break of serve, Krunic held to take a 2-0 lead.  Ostapenko would save yet another break point against in the next game but held and Krunic followed with a hold at love to lead 3-1.

No matter what Ostapenko attempted in the match, Krunic had answers.  Drop shot?  The Serb ran it down and often times hit a passing shot winner.  Baseline to baseline strategy?  Krunic returned nearly everything, further adding to the Latvian major champion's growing frustrations on the day.

Despite holding a 40-30 lead as she served at 1-3, Ostapenko would lose the next three points to go down a double break.  It was at this time that she called for the trainer to have something examined.  It should be noted that at this particular point in the match, Ostapenko had lost 10 of the last 12 games played.  The medical timeout delay impacted Krunic as she would get broken and perhaps the pause in the action would be what Ostapenko needed to calm herself on the court.

Aleksandra Krunic had other ideas and broke Ostapenko yet again to take a 5-2 lead and serve for the match.  Although Krunic would fall behind 15-40, she would win the final four points of the match and successfully advance to the second round of the Western & Southern Open.

Next up in the second round for Aleksandra Krunic is Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain.  This match will be their first meeting and will be the second match of the day on Court 7.

 

Tommy Paul Continues to Win & Advances in Cincinnati

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

 Tommy Paul advances to the 2nd round in his first Masters 1000 appearance.  Pete Ziebron Images

American Wild Card Tommy Paul improved to 6-2 this year with an impressive 6-4 7-6(4) win over countryman Donald Young in the first match on Grandstand on Monday at the Western & Southern Open.  

• Paul now 6-2 in 2017
• Young 0-6 lifetime in Cincy & 0-12 in sets played
• Paul saved 11 of 12 break points

Each player held serve in the opening four games of the match before Paul converted on his second break opportunity in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead in the first set.  Paul did consolidate the break but not before saving two break points to get to 4-2.  Young held at love in each of his next two service games, however Paul was taken to deuce the next time he served and had to once again save two break points in his final service game of the set before prevailing 6-4.

Tommy Paul saved all six break points against him in the opening set as he continually stymied Young, especially late in his last two service games.  Despite winning three games at love on his serve, Young lost the opening set.

Donald Young, who has yet to win a set of tennis in five previous attempts in Cincinnati, raced to a 3-0 lead in set two as he held to begin the set, broke Paul and then held again at love.  However, Paul would turn the tables and hold, proceed to break Young at love and then save four break points in the sixth game of the set to level at 3-3.

The only period of mild danger for either player in the rest of the set appeared with Young serving at 5 all, as that game reached deuce before Young closed it out with his sixth ace of the match.  Paul would hold at 30 and it was off to the second set tiebreak.

Tommy Paul won the first point of the breaker on Young's serve, held his serve and then won another point as Young served to cruise to a 4-0 lead.  Down 1-5, Young managed to win the next three points to get as close as 4-5, but those would be the last points of the match that he would collect as world #175 Tommy Paul continues his impressive ascent up the ATP rankings.

Just last month, the 20 year-old Paul played an ITF Futures event in Illinois where he entered that event ranked #355.   Three weeks ago, Paul won two qualifying matches and two main draw matches at the Atlanta 250 event.  The following week in Washington, DC, Paul recorded impressive wins over Casper Ruud, Lucas Pouille and Gilles Muller.  Next, he led a Match Point in the second set against world #9 Kei Nishikori before falling in that quarterfinal match.

Next up for Tommy Paul is a Center Court night match against fellow American John Isner on Tuesday at the Western & Southern Open.  

Mikhail Youzhny Defeats Ernests Gulbis For 5th Consecutive Time & Qualifies For Cincinnati Main Draw

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

  Mikhail Youzhny in qualification action at the Western & Southern Open.  Pete Ziebron Images

Mikhail Youzhny of Russia came back from a set down for the second consecutive day at the Western & Southern Open, this time defeating Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 4-6 6-1 6-4 on Court 10 to gain qualification into the Main Draw of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati on Sunday.

The veteran Russian entered the match on a four match winning steak against Gulbis and has not lost to him since the 2011 US Open.  Meanwhile, the last set Youzhny lost to Gulbis was back in 2012 in a second set tiebreaker in Doha.

Ernests Gulbis used a Protective Ranking to gain entry into the qualification draw.  He is currently #275 in the world but reached the 3rd round at Wimbledon this year, defeating Juan Martin del Potro in the second round.  Gulbis was also a top ten player in the world three years ago.

• Youzhny won 12 consecutive points in the 3rd set
• Youzhny saved 9 of 10 break points
• Gulbis hit 15 aces, giving him 28 in 2 days
• Youzhny won just 7 of 42 1st serve return points
• Youzhny defeated Gulbis for the 5th consecutive time
• Only 4 of the 14 seeded players qualified for the Main Draw

Ernests Gulbis dialed in at the Western & Southern Open.  Pete Ziebron Images

The opening set featured Ernests Gulbis continuing to hit thundering first serves as he hit seven aces in the first set.  Youzhny was not able to convert on either of his two break point opportunities and Gulbis would make good on just one of five break points, however that was all he needed as it came in the ninth game and he would serve out the opening set with an ace.

Youzhny would win the last five games of the second set, breaking Gulbis in the fourth and sixth games to take the set convincingly 6-1.  The Russian would not face a break point in the middle set.

The key point in Sunday's match came early in the final set with the #12 seed Youzhny serving at 1-2.  The Russian quickly fell behind 0-40 but snuffed out all three break points against with an ace and two Gulbis errors to level at deuce.  Next, Youzhny calm struck two more aces to win the game.  Gulbis, who appeared annoyed at two different pockets of spectators in the crowd during parts of the match, was broken at love, giving Youzhny a 3-2 lead and seeming command of the match.

Youzhny would proceed to win the first three points on his serve giving him a run of 12 consecutive points.  Although Gulbis was able to momentarily end the impressive points tally by the Russian and square the game at deuce, Youzhny would win the game four points later to take a 4-2 lead in the final set.

Perhaps the oddest game in the match occurred when Gulbis served to stay in the match at 3-5.  In that game, the Latvian struck 3 aces and concurrently double faulted three times.

To seal the match, Youzhny would need to dig out of a 15-40 hole on his serve and he would win five of the last six points to win and advance to the main draw.  Youznhy saved all five break points against him in the third set and would save nine of ten break points on the day.

Mikhail Youzhny's opponent in the main draw will be Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain.  The winner will play Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, who opened main draw action on Sunday with a three set win over American Ryan Harrison.

Aleksandra Krunic Edges Sorana Cirstea to Advance in Cincy Qualys

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Russian born Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia defeats Sorana Cirstea of Romania in Cincinnati.  Pete Ziebron Images 

Among the several intriguing matches on Saturday's Order of Play at the Western & Southern Open, the fourth match on Court 3 had the most appeal.  This appeared to be an even contest and it would certainly end up in that regard as Serbia's Alexsandra Krunic would win just two more points against Sorana Cirstea of Romania in their first round qualification match.

At exactly 4:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, Cirstea and Krunic appeared on court for warmups and Cirstea, the #6 seed, struck the first ball eight minutes after she took the court.  Ironically, both Cirstea and Krunic managed to win just one point on serve as the players traded breaks to begin the match.  

The third game would be the only game of the opening set that would get to deuce and the Romanian would stave off yet another challenge from Krunic to hold serve to lead 2-1.  The server routinely held in each of the next three games before the same pattern emerged with how the match started, namely Krunic broke again in the seventh game but failed to consolidate the break in game eight, squaring the match at 4-4.  Next, both players held routinely setting up a tiebreaker in the opening set.  

To summarize the opening set, two breaks of serve, followed by four holds, two breaks of serve, followed by four holds.

The Serb would win the opening point of the tiebreaker before Cirstea took the next seven consecutive points to claim the opening set 7-6(1).

Krunic corrected course out of the gate in the second set as she held to open the set and the broke Cirstea to take a 2-0 lead.  However, two double faults in her next service game allowed Cirstea to get back on serve.  Following two holds, Cirstea, serving at 2-3 would be broken, the first of three consecutive breaks as Krunic would serve for the set leading 5-3.  It appeared that a fourth break was possible as Cirstea got to 30-30 on Krunic's serve, however the Serb would win the next two points to take the set and level the match at a set apiece.

The players traded held service games to begin the final set and the Romanian would lead 3-1 as Krunic lost the last three points of her second service game of the set.  Once again, Cirstea was unable to consolidate the break as now it was her turn to lose the last three points of her service game.  Even though both players were striking the ball impeccably for most of the third set, it was Krunic that emerged as she would win the next three games to take a 5-3 lead.   Cirstea would indeed hold, forcing Krunic to serve out the match.

After hitting her fifth double fault of the match at 30-30, Krunic won the last three points of the match to win 6-7(1) 6-3 6-4 in two hours and two minutes.  The final tally of points was 97 for Krunic and 95 for Cirstea.

Next up for Aleksandra Krunic is the veteran Italian Francesca Schiavone, who also won her in three sets yesterday after coming back from an opening set tiebreaker where she won just one point.  Schiavone did co on Center Court against American Nicole Gibbs.  On Sunday, Krunic and Schiavone will play the second match on Grandstand.