Carla Suárez Navarro put away the Brazilian number one, Teliana Pereira, in just under an hour and a half. The 6-1, 7-5 second round win for the Spaniard saw her dominate from all aspects to book her place in the third round.

Suarez Navarro Steals The Show Early On

Suárez Navarro and Pereira took Grandstand for their enticing second round clash between the two clay-court specialists. The Brazilian led their head-to-head series one win to love, but the in-form Spaniard was considered the favorite heading into the match. Last year’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia runner-up began the meeting with a service hold, despite Pereira’s one break chance. The first break soon followed in the fourth game of the match as the Spanish number two snatched the 3-1 lead after breaking the serve of Pereira. A Suarez Navarro hold to 15 followed, and the set suddenly looked in the hands of the Spaniard.

The eighth seed’s forehand continued to fire with precise placement and depth. In fact, a Suarez Navarro forehand winner sealed her five games to one first set lead. Suarez Navarro clinched the opening set after the Brazilian struck a backhand astray. The first set did not exceed half an hour after Pereira had no answers for the consistency and craft from the Spaniard’s racquet.

Spaniard Squeezes Out Tight Second Set

Suarez Navarro started the second set with divine shot making with an abundance of winners from both her forehand and backhand wing. The world number 11 immediately grabbed the early break before consolidating with a commanding hold to love. The pair then exchanged breaks as Pereira won her first game after losing eight consecutive games to the Spaniard. Suarez Navarro crafted her way to a set and 5-1 lead, leaving the top-ranked Brazilian in the dust. But Pereira refused to be put away by Suarez Navarro, and she soon found herself level with her opposition at five games apiece after showing off her exquisite defense and touch.​

The eighth seed got her near the finish line yet again as she sealed a crucial break for a 6-5 edge. On Suarez Navarro’s second match point, a Pereira backhand dumped into the net for the Spaniard’s first win over the feisty Brazilian after an hour and 29 minutes on the grueling red clay.

2015 Finalist Awaits Third Round Opponent

This year’s Qatar Total Open champion will go head-to-head with either the 11th seeded Timea Bacsinzsky, or Lesia Tsurenko, who battled back from the brink of defeat on Tuesday. If Suarez Navarro can maintain her consistency and precise placement, she could knock out either of the talented Europeans come Thursday.