Sprem defeats Medina Garrigues in three sets.

The 4th seed Karolina Sprem ended up as the winner in a very close match that could have been a lost match for the young Croat. In the first match Sprem looked a bit rusty and Anabel Medina Garrigues was on her way to win the first set from the start. She broke Sprem’s first service game and was hitting many winners where Sprem had trouble finding the right spots on the court.

In the eight game Sprem so a chance to break back for 4 all but Medina Garrigues break back in the next game for a 5-4 lead. After holding her own serve she takes the first set in 39 minutes.

The second set started out with both players not being able to hold their service. Medina Garrigues breaks Sprem in the first, Sprem breaks Medina Garrigues in the second. Then Sprem wins her service game on love with good winners and she is on her way to break Medina Garrigues again when she leads 0-40. The Spaniard does not give in and comes back to deuce with a solid winner, she also takes advantage and her service game for 2 all in games.

Medina Garrigues takes another shot at her chances and breaks Sprem again for 3-2 but she could not find a way to score 4-2 and was broken for 3 all. Sprem is starting to hit more winners at this time. Sprem is winning her service game on love and so does Medina Garrigues.

In the ninth game Sprem is 40-0 ahead but fails to win the points that matter. Medina Garrigues comes back for deuce when Sprem hits a few balls long. With a backhand winner Sprem takes advantage and when Medina Garrigues hits her return long Sprem takes the 5-4 lead.

Sprem is fighting to keep herself into the match, her attacks pay off and her opponent is forced into hitting errors. The Croat takes the second set 6-4. Anabel Medina Garrigues is using the change over to get a medical time out.

In the third set Karolina Sprem starts off making things difficult for herself. Leading 40-15 she missed opportunities to win her service game. Sprem hits a bad ball at the net, Medina Garrigues returns it for a winner to make it deuce. Sprem is ends a long rally with a forehand winner to take advantage and taking advantage she does when she hits an ace for 1-0. Medina Garrigues ties 1 all.

The rally are getting longer at this point and Medina Garrigues is paying for it. Her injury seems to bother her after long rallies. She takes time to recover from running, the umpire gives her a warning for time violation. Sprem is still having trouble winning her service game and hits double faults. Medina Garrigues is on breakpoint but could not take it. A good serve by Sprem wins her the point for deuce. Sprem takes advantage when Medina Garrigues hit the ball wide. This time she hits the net for deuce again. Another good serve makes Medina Garrigues return wide. On advantage for Sprem Spanish Medina Garrigues hits the ball with her frame. Sprem finally wins her service game for 2-1.

The games go easier for both players until the eighth game. Sprem hits three winners for a 30-40 lead against Medina Garrigues’ service. The umpire overrules a point for deuce when he sees the ball hitting the line when the line judge calls it out. The replay the point and this time Sprem smashes in the net, deuce. Sprem takes advantage and she wins the game taking the point with a good smash this time, she leads 5-3.

Serving for the match Sprem starts with an ace but Medina Garrigues leads 15-40 after some errors made by the Croatian. She does play a good serve and volley point for 30-40 but that doesn’t leave Medina Garrigues taking the game when Sprem hits a ball into the net. Sprem still leads 5-4 and Medina Garrigues seems ready to tie for 5 all.

Sprem is attacking Medina Garrigues’ service game with good results 0-15 and 0-30. Medina Garrigues hits a ball wide and trails 0-40 leaving 3 match points for Sprem. The 22 year old from Valencia scores 15-40 and Sprem hits a ball wide 30-40. After 2 hours and 5 minutes Sprem hits a return winner to end the match in her favour, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

At 12.00 noon Virginia Ruano Pascual started her match against Spanish compatriot Maria Sanchez-Lorenzo. Ruano Pascual from Madrid defeats her opponent from Barcelona in two sets, 6-4, 6-3.

Denisa Chladkova from the Czech Republic defeats Italy’s Silvia Farina Elia in two sets, 6-0, 6-2.