Roberta Vinci endured a tough opening match in Brisbane against Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic as she recovered from a set down to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
The eighth seed started the match unconvincingly as she struggled at times to get a first serve in. Throughout the opening set the Italian managed to get just 45% of her first serves in. The low first serve percentage played into the hands of Jankovic, who was able to attack the slower second serve. This resulted in the Serbian breaking Vinci three times during the opening set to take it after only 30 minutes.
Vinci could of been in danger of losing the match when she faced a break point in the first game of the second set. This time, she successfully fended off Jankovic before breaking the Serbian for the first time in the match a couple games later. Leading the set 4-2, both players then encountered a marathon game which consisted of seven deuces. As Jankovic served, it was Vinci’s turn to apply the pressure on her opponent. After failing to convert five break points in the marathon game, Vinci finally broke with her sixth to extend her lead in the set as a decider approached.
At the most crucial time in the match, Vinci was finally able to find her first serve, increasing from 47% in set two to 59% in the decider. The increase in the percentage aided her to fend off four break points during three of her service games. The crucial break in occurred during the fifth game of the final set. A poor service game from the Serbian, consisting of three consecutive unforced errors, handed Vinci the break to lead for the first time in the match. The poor game from Jankovic was fatal to her chances in the match as Vinci held her service to take the win after two hours and 17 minutes on the Brisbane court.
Vinci will now play in the second round of the tournament for the fourth time in her career, facing former Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova. Following her win, a delighted Vinci labelled her first round win as the best start the season in her entire career.
“It was a tough match against a great player, I probably won only one or two times against her in the past. It was a good match for both of us, a great way to start the season. Every year in Australia, I don’t play so good, so this time something has changed. This is probably my best first match of the year ever”. She said.
At 32-year-old Vinci is becoming a Veteran on the tour, however, she isn’t allowing her age to be a factor in her game.
“I’m not young, but I’m feeling good. And now I’m focusing on 2016. Serena is 34, also Flavia won US Open last year. There are examples.” Vinci said after her triumph.
Elsewhere at the tournament Carla Suarez Navarro dropped just three games during her 6-1, 6-2, win against Croatian world No.65 Ajla Tomljanović. In the second round, the Spanish sixth seed will play home favorite Sam Stosur after she defeated Jana Čepelová 6-4, 3-6,6-3. The Australian trailed 0-3 in the final set to the qualifier before winning six out of the next seven games to move to the second round.
Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic produced an impressive display in her 6-1, 6-2, win over Italian world No.20 Sara Errani. Bencic dominated throughout the match, winning 68% of the match points (56/82). In the next round, she will play American qualifier Samantha Crawford after she defeated Australian wildcard Priscilla Hon (6-4, 6-4) in her first round match.
