Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova is the latest player to make it through to the quarterfinals of the Moorilla Hobart International with a solid 3-6 6-4 6-2 win over number 3 seed Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic.
Pironkova did not get off to the best start in this match, with her opponent seemingly hitting winners at will to take the first 4 games of the match.
“It was a slow start for sure,” said the 25-year-old Pironkova. “Conditions were a bit hard, it was windy and her balls were very fast, she hits the ball very hard so I needed a bit of time to adjust to that.”
Pironkova slowly worked her way into the match, aided by a number of unforced errors by Zakapalova. She broke back in the 6th game of the match before holding serve to make it 4-3. Zakapalova managed to regain control to win the set 6-3, but Pironkova was still feeling good.
“From 4-0 I made 4-3 and even though she took the set I started to feel more confident.”
This confidence showed early in the second set with Pironkova coming out firing to break in the opening game and work her way to a 4-1 lead. However, this was a match where neither player seemed to be able to find any rhythm, Zakapolova regaining the momentum to level at 4-4. But despite double faulting at a crucial time to let Zakapalova back into the game, Pironkova was able to maintain her composure and take the second set 6-4.
Another momentum change at the start of the deciding set saw Zakapalova take the upper hand at 2-0. But that was where it ended for the world No.23 Czech with Pironkova winning 6 games straight to record a 3-6 6-4 6-2 victory.
Pironkova will now be looking to improve on her 2009 performance at the Hobart International where she also reached the quarterfinals, when she plays defending champion Mona Barthel tomorrow afternoon.
The 25 year old knows this won’t be an easy task though. “I’m expecting a tough job tomorrow, she’s a really, really good player. I’ve practiced with her several times so I kind of know what to expect, but practice is a lot different from a normal match so we’ll see.”