Errani Makes Winning Start As Azarenka Withdraws
Sara Errani ended any hopes that Julia Goerges harboured of repeating her 2012 success at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, beating the German 6-3 4-6 6-4 in the first match on Centre Court Tuesday.
At the same time, top seed Victoria Azarenka was forced to withdraw with a foot injury, complaining of a bone bruise on her right heel.
Last year Goerges surprised everyone by advancing all the way to the final before falling to Agnieszka Radwanska, but this time she had the misfortune to draw the fifth seeded Italian, ranked seven in the world. The German still put up a fight before conceding.
While Errani saved three of three break points she faced in the first set, she won an early break of serve against Goerges and that was followed by another when Goerges double-faulted on set point at 5-3.
Goerges then had to fight off a break point to hold for 1-1 in the second set, and she then broke to lead 2-1 and then again for 4-1 before eventually levelling the match at one set all. The third set was highly competitive throughout, with Errani emerging as the narrowest of winners.
Nadia Petrova also advanced to the second round by coming from behind to beat Dominika Cibulkova 5-7 6-3 6-2.
Azarenka must be suffering from a feeling of deja vu after also having to withdraw last year with an injury sustained in Doha. She managed to win the Doha title last week with a three-set victory over Serena Williams in the final, but playing a second highly competitive tournament so soon after was more than her body could take.
Emirate: Dubai
Date: Feb 19, 2013
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