Porsche Grand Prix Day 4: Sabine Lisickifirst German through to second round
Stuttgart. Sabine Lisicki is the first German to reach the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The Porsche Team Germany player defeated the Italian qualifier Nastassja Burnett 6-3, 6-4 in the almost full-to-capacity Porsche Arena on Tuesday. Germans however to fall on the second day were Andrea Petkovic and Dinah Pfizenmaier.
“I’m really happy to have got past the first obstacle in Stuttgart. Playing the first round against a qualifier with three matches already behind her is always difficult but I played well when it counted,” said Sabine Lisicki. “Now I’d obviously like to stay in the tournament for as long as possible.”
It’s no longer an option for Andrea Petkovic. The Porsche Team Deutschland player is back in Stuttgart. But she is still a long way off top form. After losing to Ana Ivanovic, the 25-year-old left the court after one hour 12 minutes in a completely different state of mind to the one last year – despite the loss. In 2012, she turned an ankle in her match against Victoria Azarenka and had to be helped off the court in tears after tearing two ligaments. Almost 12 months later and the smile and optimism are back as, in her first round match against the former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic (Serbia), she successfully overcame the low point in her career – even when the after effects of the long injury break were still there for all to see. “The atmosphere in Stuttgart cool, just like it’s always been. It was totally amazing out there,” said Andrea Petkovic. “I’ve now replaced the negative experiences in Stuttgart with a positive one.”
The loss today peeved Andrea Petkovic: “I’m mega frustrated. But only when I’m on court. Afterwards, I’m back to being realistic. At the moment I’m lacking consistency.” Playing Ana Ivanovic (No. 17), the Germany showed, especially at the start, flashes of her strengths. She broke first but then got in her own way every now and again. Excellent serves were followed by unforced forehand errors. Powerful groundstokes were often followed by weak approach shots. “I wanted too much. I was like a dog that whiffed its chance,” said Andrea Petkovic, “it led to me taking far too many risks.”
The appearance at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix was an important step on the hoped-for return to the world’s top echelon. The German, who has slipped down to No. 131 in the world rankings, was given a wild card for Stuttgart. At her other tournaments she will be forced to go through the ordeal of qualifying. “It’s no problem. I’ll also be playing the smaller events. I simply need matches,” said Andrea Petkovic. This means spectators in Stuttgart can look forward to further appearances of the crowd favourite in the Porsche Arena. Partnered by fellow German Angelique Kerber, she will be lining up in the doubles. Andrea Petkovic: “But take care – we’re the world’s worst doubles pair.”
Another player to offer stiff resistance was Dinah Pfizenmaier. The 21-year-old member of the Porsche Talent Team Germany was narrowly defeated by the No. 8 seed Nadia Petrova (Russia) 7-6 (2), 6-4 in a match that lasted one hour 45 minutes. In the end, a single break in the second set with the score at 5-4 sufficed to hand the 2006 tournament winner the win. The Russian had her work cut out against the qualifier and was full of praise for her opponent: “Dinah played very well. She has a rosy future.”
Another German off to a good start at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix was Anna-Lena Grönefeld. Partnered by Kveta Peschke (CZE), the Porsche Team Germany player who, together with Sabine Lisicki secured the decisive point in the 3-2 Fed Cup win against Serbia, reached the next round of the doubles with a 6-2, 6-3 win against Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) and Shuai Peng (China). Julia Görges’ first match in Stuttgart was not so successful: she and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (Czech Republic) lost 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 to Liezel Huber (USA) and Janette Husarova (Slovakia).
singles - First round
[9] Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) d Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
| 7 - 5 | 6 - 1 |
Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) d Misaki Doi (JPN)
| 6 - 2 | 4 - 6 | 6 - 2 |
[5] Kiki Bertens (NED) d Timea Babos (HUN)
| 7 - 5 | 6 - 2 |
[7] Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d Alexandra Cadantu (ROU)
| 6 - 4 | 4 - 6 | 6 - 4 |
[3] Alize Cornet (FRA) d Fatima Zahrae El Allami (MAR)
| 6 - 1 | 6 - 1 |
Karin Knapp (ITA) d Lina Qostal (MAR)
| 6 - 0 | 6 - 1 |
Simona Halep (ROU) d Nina Bratchikova (RUS)
| 6 - 1 | 6 - 3 |
Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d Michaela Honcova (SVK)
| 7 - 6 (4) | 6 - 2 |
Mandy Minella (LUX) d Estrella Cabeza Candela (ESP)
| 7 - 6 (3) | 4 - 6 | 7 - 5 |
[4] Kaia Kanepi (EST) d Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
| 4 - 6 | 6 - 3 | 6 - 2 |
doubles - First round
O Savchuk / C Scheepers (UKR/RSA) d V Savinykh / V Solovyeva (RUS/RUS)
| 2 - 6 | 7 - 6 (6) | 10 - 2 |
S Klemenschits / A Klepac (AUT/SLO) d A Lim / L Qostal (FRA/MAR)
| 6 - 3 | 6 - 3 |
E Hrdinova / K Pliskova (CZE/CZE) d N Bratchikova / A Cadantu (RUS/ROU)
| 6 - 3 | 6 - 3 |
[3] T Babos / M Minella (HUN/LUX) d M Domachowska / S Foretz Gacon (POL/FRA)
| 3 - 6 | 6 - 4 | 12 - 10 |
P Kania / R Olaru (POL/ROU) d [2] F Pennetta / F Schiavone (ITA/ITA)
