Riske overcomes Dellacqua to earn quarter-final spot

American Alison Riske is the first player into the 2014 Hobart International quarter-finals. The world no. 55 earnt the spot with a 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over Australian wildcard Casey Dellacqua on centre court today.
7 January 2014, by AAP

American Alison Riske is the first player into the 2014 Hobart International quarter-finals.

The world no. 55 earnt the spot with a 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over Australian wildcard Casey Dellacqua on centre court today.

Riske broke the West Australian three times to Dellacqua’s two in the final set, overcoming two double faults and a break point in the final game as she served out the match.

The 23-year-old American, who made the fourth round at the US Open last year, will play China’s Zhang Shuai or Czech Klara Zakopalova in the quarter-finals.

In a first set that included six consecutive breaks of serve, it was Riske who got the crucial one when leading 6-5.

The American converted her first set point with a sizzling forehand down the line to take the set 7-5.

Dellacqua broke Riske twice in the second and was down 0-40 serving for the set at 5-4.

She won four straight points to take it 6-4 when Riske netted a first set point.