Kirilenko Triumphs In Another Thriller In Thailand

Maria Kirilenko rallied after being two points from defeat a day after having one match point against her at the PTT Pattaya Open.

Published Feburary 08, 2012 06:30

Kirilenko Triumphs In Another Thriller In Thailand
Maria Kirilenko

PATTAYA CITY, Thailand - A day after she endured a match point in the second set of her two-and-a-half-hour first round victory over Casey Dellacqua at the PTT Pattaya Open, No.4 seed Maria Kirilenko was on the brink of defeat against another Australian, but once again prevailed.

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Serving at 2-5, 15-30 in the third set against Anastasia Rodionova on Wednesday, Kirilenko rallied to force a tie-break and raced out to a 6-1 lead en route to the 26 63 76(3) win, raising her record to 3-0 in their head-to-head series. Just the third set of the almost three hour clash lasted one hour, 17 minutes.

"Tough loss today. Didn't close it out but played some really good tennis overall. Glad doubles was nice and quick," tweeted Rodionova, who cruised into the doubles quarterfinals alongside Sania Mirza.

Kirilenko's quarterfinal opponent will be Thailand resident Tamarine Tanasugarn, who has played this event every year except once since 1993. She downed qualifier Chang Kai-Chen, 76(7) 63, despite having three set points against her at 6-3 in the first set tie-break.

The other quarterfinal that was set will see top-seeded Vera Zvonareva take on seventh-seeded Sorana Cirstea. Zvonareva, twice a champion here, was a 63 63 winner over Akgul Amanmuradova. Cirstea topped Misaki Doi, 62 62, the exact same score the Romanian won by in the first round.

Among those in action Thursday is No.3 seed and defending champion Daniela Hantuchova, who has never lost a set in her six career matches here.

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