Jarmila Groth prevails at the BMW Malaysian Tennis Open
Jarmila Groth of Australia came back from the brink of defeat to advance into the quarterfinals of the BMW Malaysian Open 2011 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Singles - Second Round (2) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Ekaterina Ivanova (RUS) 62 61 Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. (3) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 36 64 63 (4/WC) Jarmila Groth (AUS) d. Misaki Doi (JPN) 76(6) 63 (5) Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Dinara Safina (RUS) 63 46 63
Doubles - Quarterfinals Lu/Xu (CHN/CHN) d. (2) Brianti/Zhang (ITA/CHN) 64 62 Aoyama/Chan (JPN/TPE) d. Bovina/Bratchikova (RUS/RUS) 57 63 103
The fourth seed had to overcome a determined Misaki Doi from Japan before eventually prevailing 7-6 (6), 6-3 to book her place in the last eight where she will face another Japanese, in the likes of Ayumi Morita.
Playing in scorching heat did not help Groth and she kept making mistakes to hand the initiative to her opponent in the early part of the match.
Groth had a successful start to the year as she won 2011 Moorilla Hobart International where she defeated American Bethanie Mattek-Sandss in the final to gain her second WTA title.
And she looks in fine form to land the BMW Malaysian Open title, if she can overcome her flaws in service.
It was by no means an easy win for Groth who had disposed off Sun Shengan of China in the first round.
As it took tremendous fighting display from the Australian as she was 1-4 down in the set but won the next five games to lead 5-4.
Doi managed to recover in time as she led 4-15 in the tenth game but two double faults in quick succession handed the initiative to Groth, who led 6-5.
Groth had the lead but failed to hold on to her own serve, thus forcing the first set to be decided by a tiebreaker.
The tiebreaker witnessed another titanic battle as Doi took a 5-2 lead only to crumble, conceding the next three points. And Groth prevailed, winning the tiebreaker 8-6 to take the first set.
It was plain sailing though for Groth in the second set as she broke Doi to take a 4-2 lead and never looked back, wrapping the match with a 6-3 win in the second, and more importantly a place in the last eight.
Groth started off the year in the 2011 Brisbane International where she made it to the quarterfinals after beating her countrywoman and 1st seed Samantha Stosur, her first win over a top 10 player. But lost to Germany’s Andrea Petkovic.
In the Australian Open Groth lost to 2009 US Open semi-finalist Yanina Wickmayer in the first round.
Groth was part of the Australian Fed Cup team for the first time. Despite Australia losing 1-3, Groth managed to grab a win against World No. 4 Francesca Schiavone 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.
Groth played at the Dubai Tennis Championships where she defeated Slovakian Dominika Cibulková in the first round 7-6(5), 6-2. However, Groth lost to 15th seed Alisa Kleybanova 4-6, 3-6.
After Dubai, Groth took part in the Qatar Ladies Open where she had to qualify for the main draw and in the process defeated Selima Sfarr in the first round, fellow Australian and in form Jelena Dokiæ in the second round and sixth seed Timea Bacsinszkyy to qualify in the main draw.
There, Groth faced Dominika Cibulková in the first round, where she lost in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(8).
Groth had a successful junior career as she reached the semifinals at two junior Grand Slam tournaments.
In the 2003 Wimbledon junior competition she lost in semifinal to the later winner Kirsten Flipkens.
In the Australian Open junior competition, 2004, she reached semifinal in both singles and doubles (with Shahar Pe'er). In both times she lost to Nicole Vaidišová.
Another success came in winning doubles at the Italian Open junior tournament in 2003 with Andrea Hlaváèková.
The BMW Malaysian Open 2011, a leg of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour – The world’s leading professional sport for women is being held from 28th February to 6th March 2011 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort. The tournament has 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams’ competing in a knockout style competition for the prize purse of USD 220,000.00.
Tickets for the tournament can be obtained from TicketPro through their website at www.ticketpro.com.my or by calling +603 7880 7999. For ticket prices and other information log on to the official website of the tournament at www.bmwmalaysianopen.com.
