Lucky Loser Casanova defeats Koukalova in Antwerp

TeamWTA Pictures
By Etienne Stekelenburg
February 20 2004

Swiss Lucky Loser Myriam Casanova defeats unlucky loser Klara Koukalova. The Czech did beat Casanova in the qualifiers but the losers were lucky enough to get a second chance in the tournament. Casanova won in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

To break or re-break, that was the question in this match between No. 100 and No. 104 of the ranking. No. 104 finally got the right answer and won in the repêchage.

In the first set there were only three service breaks and Koukalova took the lead 6-4.

Casanova took a 3-0 lead in the second, she almost took a 4-0 lead but the line judge saw the ball out. Followed a correction by the umpire who saw the ball in and the point had to be replayed. This time Koukalova held her serve and came back 3-1.

At 4-1 the players started to break each other’s service games but the Swiss held her lead. At 5-3 it looked like Koukalova was going to break again but Casanova eventually came back to deuce and won her serve and the second set 6-3.

The third set was a different ball game altogether. Eight service games were broken by the opponent and the Swiss Casanova got away with holding her own service two times where Koukalova only held her own game once.

Casanova saw her chance of finishing the match when Koukalova got her double fault on love 40 giving Casanova a 5-4 lead. This time Casanova could hold her service game and won the third set and the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.