Begu wins against Svetlana Kuznetsova

[9 April 2011]

Irina Begu will face Victoria Azarenka in tomorrow´s final of Andalucía Tennis Experience 2011. Romanian tennis player gave a big surprise to a tournament by defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets (3-6, 7-6 (3) and 6-4) in a very intense match that lasted three hours and ten minutes and that provided the spectators with an outstanding piece of tennis displayed on the Center Court of Puente Romano Tennis Club in Marbella.

Although the match started with a surprising 2-0 for the Romanian, Kuznetsova reacted quickly and managed to equal the score. In the seventh game the Russian has left her rival behind on the scoreboard and won a very important point of the match. From that point Begu has lowered the intensity of the game and Kuznetsova immediately took advantage of that to win the first set.

The second set started similarly to the first one, with a clear dominance of Begu. With her fast and brave game she managed to establish astonishing result 4 to 0. Kuznetsova's response was tremendous as she managed to tie the game. In the end of this very exciting set, which made the spectators hold their breath on numerous occasions because of the result changing on the scoreboard constantly from in the favor of one of the players to the other, the current world number 138 displayed a big comeback and forced the third set.

In the final set, Begu performed a very effective game; her powerful shoots from the baseline and opportunity she took to break her rival´s service, gave her an important advantage 3 to 0. But Kuznetsova although physically tired, once again demonstrated why it is the fourteenth best player in the world and she equaled the result one more time. But in the end Begu appeared to be superior to her opponent physically and mentally and won the match thanks to her spectacular and offensive game.

"The key was in the beginning of the second set. I played very badly and this allowed her gain a lot of confidence. Moreover she has played very well although I have not taken advantage of the opportunities I had in the second or the third set. Generally I'm satisfied with my performance here but I am obviously disappointed to have missed an opportunity that I had been given today, "said the Russian. On the other hand and right after the match Begu could hardly believe what she achieved today: "It's unbelievable to have gone so far, I would never have imagined it. I really enjoyed today and tomorrow I will simply continue to enjoy, without any pressure. "

Thanks to this victory Begu makes the tournament history by becoming the first player from the qualifying draw that has gone that far in all three editions of the event. The Romanian also won the final in the $ 100,000 ITF Circuit tournament in Colombia. This result confirms she has been in a great form.

Azarenka and Begu have never faced each other on the WTA circuit so far, so both players will star in the final difficult to foresee. The match will be played tomorrow at 14h on the Center Court of Puente Romano Tennis Club.

Source: Andalucia Tennis Experience

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