Two former top 30 players in Tamira Paszek and Francesca Schiavone were languishing outside the top 100 of the world in the WTA rankings. However, they put on a fine display of tennis, showing why both were ranked as high as they were with the Austrian prevailing 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 in just under three hours at the ASB Classic.

Paszek Punishes Schiavone In Breaker, Captures Marathon Opening Set

Early on, the first serve was key for Paszek because when she hit it in, she was able to pounce on the short slice returns from Schiavone. The Austrian had a marathon opening service game going seven deuces and saving five break points in the process. The former world number 26  saved the first two with some clutch backhand winners before errors from the Italian helped Paszek fend them off. After two games, it was one-all in 16 minutes.

This first service game from the Austrian was key as it kept her level in the match, and she nearly put herself ahead in the following game with two break points of her own, but Schiavone managed to hold them off for a 2-1 lead.

After a wild first four games in which both women failed to capitalize on their opportunities, it was a break fest. The end of the opening set saw four breaks of serve in the final eight games before the tiebreak. Paszek led 4-2 but quickly saw it evaporate and soon found herself 4-5 down. She earned the right to serve for the set with a break for 6-5 when the former world number four dumped a backhand into the net.

The 35-year-old Italian struck right back however, hitting a perfectly hit dipping backhand volley away from Paszek to force the first set into a breaker. Paszek raced out to a 6-1 lead in the tiebreak and had five set points at her disposal. She converted the third to take the opening set 7-6(3).

Schiavone Levels After Regaining Break Lead Early In Set

In veteran fashion, the Italian quickly put that tough opening set loss behind her and raced out to a 2-0 lead. She’d quickly surrender the lead back though thanks to the brilliant court coverage of the Austrian who went corner-to-corner and then to the net to get it back to two-all.

Once again though, it was the world number 114 using her experience to get herself ahead by breaking immediately for 3-2. She wouldn’t look back after that, forcing a third set with a 6-4 win.

Paszek Finishes Off The Italian

The clear turning point of the set, and likely the match, was Schiavone squandering a 40-0 lead in the fourth game of the third set. Paszek broke on her second break point when the 35-year-old netted a slice backhand. The world number 172 consolidated the break for 4-1 but put herself in danger once again by getting broken later to put the Italian back on serve at 4-3.

The serve let down Schiavone when she needed it most with the Austrian jumping on second serves with the Italian serving to level the set at four apiece. A netted forehand gave Paszek the break lead right back and gave her a chance to serve out the match. Paszek double faulted to set up what could have been a nervy ending by giving Schiavone another breakback point. However, the Austrian showed no mercy in finishing off the Italian with a big backhand winner down the line to seal the match.

Svetlana Kuznetsova, winner of her first round match a day before this one was played, will now play Paszek in the second round. The fourth-seeded Russian won her match via retirement by Mona Barthel who was citing sickness.