Elena Baltacha Beats French Open Champion
30 July 2010
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Elena Baltacha produced a stunning 6-4 6-2 win over French Open champion Francesca Schiavone to reach the quarter finals of the Istanbul Cup.
Schiavone has struggled for form after her superb win at Roland Garros earlier this summer and was the top seed for the competition in Istanbul.
But Baltacha, who struggled in her opening match against Cagla Buyukakcay needed just an hour and twenty five minutes to dispatch Schiavone.
Baltacha's powerful game put the Italian's serve under pressure from the off and she broke five time during the match as Schiavone served up eight double faults to Baltacha none.
Speaking to the LTA after the match Baltacha said: "I’m really proud of today, it’s my third top ten win and I’ve had such a great year, it feels amazing. I’d like to think that this is the real Elena Baltacha.
"I’m beginning to perform much more consistently, week in week out and I’m improving a lot as a player. I still have a few things to work on but I feel that every week I’m adding a lot of positives to my game."
She will now face German sixth seed Andrea Petkovic for a place in the semi final as she saw off qualifier Ekaterina Makarova 7- 6 (7-5) 5-7 6-3.
Third seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova saw off Magdalena Rybarikova with a 6-3 6-2 win and she will face Sorana Cirstea who saw off Johanna Larsson 6-4 6-4.
Jarmila Groth beat Anna Lapushchenkova 5-7 6-2 6-3 and the final quarter final match with see Yaroslava Shvedova take on Anastasia Rodionova.
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