Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova emerged victorious during the Ladies Bronze Doubles match up against their Czech compatriots Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka today. They clinched the medal in straight sets: 7-5, 6-1, after one hour and forty-eight minutes of highly entertaining tennis. Although the first set saw all four ladies battling to get the edge, the second set was a lot more one-sided. Here is a deeper look at what went on during the match at the Rio Olympics 2016.
Safarova/Strycova win tense first set
Safarova and Strycova began proceedings by serving first but found themselves in trouble as they stared down the barrel of two breakpoints immediately. They were unable to save these as Hlavackova and Hradecka took their first opportunity to break and gain the upper hand in the very first game. Safarova and Strycova however, were able to undo the damage in the very next game by breaking back their opponent's serve.
Hlavackova and Hradecka became fierce once again, as they broke the Strycova serve to go 2-1 up. The next service game was a battle, with the game going to deuce a total of nine times, but Safarova and Strycova were unable to break back, giving their opponents a widening 3-1 lead.
Safarova and Strycova managed to keep their nerve and hold their next service game, but their opponents were able to do the same by holding their service convincingly to love to now go 4-2 up in the set. It seemed that Hlavackova and Hradecka were going to take the set comfortably as they steered in control—both teams held the next three service games comfortably to take the scoreline to 5-4 in favor of Hlavackova and Hradecka, who had to serve now for the set.
It was this crucial game however, where Safarova and Strycova decided to emphatically claw their way back into the set and match as they broke serve after taking the game to deuce. They did not make a mistake then as they held serve comfortably to take the lead for the first time in the match at 6-5. Now that they were finally playing how they wanted, they broke the Hlavackova serve in the next game to take the enthralling set 7-5.
Safarova and Strycova steer to victory
After getting a tough set under their belt, Strycova and Safarova now seemed to be completely in the zone. Unlike the first set, this time, they were able to hold their first service game extremely comfortable. Although Hlavackova and Hradecka managed to do the same in their service game, their opponents made sure to not let them gain an advantage this time. Safarova and Strycova's next service game was a crucial one as they battled from three deuces and saved three break points to win the game and go up 2-1.
Safarova and Strycova gained tremendous momentum from this moment as they broke their opponents' serve to love in the very next game and held their own extremely comfortable. By breaking the Hradecka serve, this time, to love once again, Safarova and Strycova were now just one game away from victory. They took the last game to win the set and match, 6-1. Thrilled with their efforts, they clinched the Bronze medal.
After defeating the Williams sisters early on in the tournament, Safarova and Strycova can consider this an extremely successful and memorable moment for them, with a Bronze medal to commemorate their success despite not being able to reach the final. Although the medal was bound to go to the Czechs, the Safarova and Strycova camp can count this as an amazing personal achievement and one for their country.