Eala saves six match points but Shnaider closes the door in Ningbo
Shnaider converted the seventh match point to beat Eala 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of the WTA 500 event in Ningbo in just under two hours.
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Alex Eala salvou seis match points. O sétimo foi demais. Diana Shnaider converteu para fechar a vitória por 7/5 e 6/4 sobre a filipina número 20 do mundo em pouco menos de duas horas nesta quinta-feira, na segunda rodada do torneio WTA 500 de Ningbo.
No 5-4 do segundo set, sacando para o jogo, a número 13 do mundo viu oportunidade após oportunidade escapar em um game final interminável antes de finalmente confirmar o triunfo.
A avaliação dela própria, dada na entrevista em quadra, foi de que houve um salto claro em relação à estreia.
Quero dizer, com certeza muito melhor do que a minha anterior.
Obviamente muito feliz com o jeito que joguei hoje, com o jeito que competi, porque com certeza a Alex é muito perigosa e uma adversária dura.
Shnaider então descreveu o que torna Eala difícil de enfrentar: outra canhota, outra batedora que não para de avançar.
Ela nunca recua, sabe. Ela entra na bola, ela bate forte. Então, eu sabia que seria duro.
Questionada especificamente sobre o duelo entre canhotas, Shnaider disse: “Nunca é fácil jogar contra outra canhota”, apontando uma rotação pouco familiar e, sobretudo, o saque cortado no corpo. Ajustar-se, explicou, leva alguns games — descobrir a zona de contato, caçar a fraqueza, ganhar tempo até a partida se assentar.
E aí fica um pouco mais fácil conforme o jogo segue.
Para Eala, a eliminação deixa uma vitória nos últimos cinco jogos em nível de circuito.
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