Andrea Petkovic has tonight caused an upset by knocking out 8th seed Alexandra Dulgheru in straight sets, 6-3 6-0.
The fight was on in the first set with each player holding serve with long drawn points and strong, focused game faces in place.
Video: watch Brisbane International videos
The battle was about to draw to a close, however, as Petkovic managed to break Dulgheru’s serve before taking the first set 6-3.
“I think I played well, in the beginning I was a little nervous. The first match after
Photos: latest photos from the Brisbane International
a long time, so I was struggling a little bit. After I got in a good rhythm, I think I played really well,” said Petkovic.
Dulgheru looked flustered in the second set as Petkovic got on a roll and reeled off six consecutive games to take the set 6-0.
“Well in the beginning it was really tight and close, and I think there were two or three points that made the decision when I made the break. And then she dropped I think, but I think I also put a lot of pressure on her and I think her game is more to keep the rallies going and I tried to hold the point shot, and then I think I got her out of rhythm and she started missing a lot, for her style of game normally,” said Petkovic.
The German who is currently ranked No.32 in the world, is set to play either wildcard Jelena Dokic or qualifier Anastasia Pivovarova in the next round.
“Jelena is playing later against Anastasia Pivovarova, so it’s going to be a tough match because the qualifiers are always in a good rhythm, they have already played three matches. And Jelena is always a weapon that you never know what is going to happen, so I’m trying to focus.”
Tickets are still available for Brisbane International 2011 from Ticketek.
Meanwhile, a heated match between Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and qualifier Anna Tatishvili saw Zahlavova Strycova take it out 7-5 6-2.
“It was [a] great match for the start [of the] season and I really enjoyed and I like the weather today, it was humid, so I like to play in humid,” said Zahlavova Strycova.
Joining her in the second round is Iveta Benesova who survived a second set challenge from Slovakia’s Polona Hercog, eventually winning 6-2 7-5.
“I’m very happy with the way my first match I played, because it’s always important to have good wins from the beginning of the year,” said Benesova.
Benesova will meet 4th seed Marion Bartoli in the next round, while Zahlavova Strycova will face surprise Australian wildcard Sally Peers for a spot in the quarterfinals.