BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open, Luxembourg

I saw [CR145] Denisa Allertova (CZE) play for the first time yesterday when she played against [CR25] Sabine Lisicki (GER), and I was impressed by how flat she hits the ball, her pace, and her composure. Her game took Lisicki by surprise and she handled Lisicki’s pace with ease.

Today Allertova played [CR37] Varvara Lepchenko (USA), after she lost the first set and was down an early break in the second set, I thought that Lepchenko, the more experienced player, would win the match; however, Allertova believed in her game and continued striking the ball with pace and depth, eventually wrestling the match away from Lepchenko.

Lepchenko was so unnerved when Allertova broke back in the second set that she dropped her next service game to give Allertova a commanding lead in the set. Although Allertova got anxious serving to win the set, Lepchenko was so flustered, she was unable to convert any of the break opportunities presented.

Nerves plagued both players in the third set and Allertova could not hold on to her lead. Lepchenko not yet ready to concede the match evened the score and again I thought, she can win this match.  However, Lepchenko’s fragile confidence wilted at the prospect of a lead, and she immediately lost her serve.  In the end, Allertova controlled her nerves and served an ace on match point to win 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.