Klara Koukalova defeats Dinara Safina

TeamWTA Pictures
By Etienne Stekelenburg
February 18 2004

(Antwerp) Klara Koukalova, the 21-year old from Prague defeated 17-year-old Dinara Safina from Moscow in two sets. In both sets Safina took the lead but could not hold it to the end. The Czech won 6-4 and 7-6 (2) after being down 3-1 in the first and 5-2 in the second set.

Dinara Safina looked like moving into the next round with ease when she started the first set. All of her shots were on the right spot mixing passing shot with drop shots and dominating the game.

In the fifth game Koukalova broke Safina’s serve, she was 0-40 ahead but Safina came back to deuce. Koukalova took advantage and came back in the match for 3-2.

After holding her serve Koukalova took Safina’s service game again when the Russian hit the ball into the net with one breakpoint against her. Koukalova leads 4-3 and held her own serve for 5-3.

In the ninth game Dinara Safina held her serve for 4-5. She got a breakpoint against Koukalova’s serve in the tenth game but also a warning for smashing her racket to pieces when she lost her Marat-like temper. She could not prevent Koukalova taking the first set 6-4.

In the fourth game of the second set Safina scored a breakpoint with a well placed drop shot immediately breaking with a similar drop shot behind the net.

Safina takes a 5-1 lead when she breaks Koukalova with a winning crosscourt backhand. Instead of serving for the 2nd set Safina lost her serve. After being down 0-40 Safina managed to come back into the game but could not prevent Koukalova from breaking for 5-2 when the Czech hits a volley crosscourt behind the net.

Safina started to hit the balls long and wide and could never find her the form she showed earlier in the game. Koukalova broke for 5-4 and 5-6 before Safina finally could hold her own serve for 6 all. In the tiebreak Safina could not keep up with Koukalova’s pace and strength.

The currently ranked #100 Koukalova defeats the #31 ranked Safina in the deciding tiebreak 7-2. Lucky Loser Julia Vakulenko from the Ukraine defeats Qualifier Alexandra Stevenson from the USA 6-3 6-1 on court No. 2.