Before the match in Doha, Coco Vandeweghe and Kirsten Flipkens had only faced each other once. During that match in Auckland last year, Vandeweghe defeated Flipkens in three sets. This time around, the American got the job done a lot easier, beating Flipkens in straight sets, to advance into the next round of the Qatar Total Open.
Vandeweghe Battles Back From A Break Down
Flipkens served first in the set and got off to a good start, holding her serve after the game went to deuce. The next four games, however, resulted in the player who was serving winning the game. Neither player lost more than 2 points in these games.
With both players comfortably holding serve, it was difficult to see when the first break of serve would occur. Eventually, in the sixth game of the set, Flipkens managed to break Vandeweghe's serve.
Just moments later, the qualifier quickly found herself 15-40 up during Vandeweghe's service game. Unfortunatly for Vandeweghe, she could not find a way to prevent Flipkens from breaking her serve, as the player from Belgium capitalised on her first break point to take the lead in the set.
Flipkins consolidiated the break of serve and took further control of the set, by holding her service game to love. At 2-5 down, Vandeweghe was serving to stay in the set. The American did not let the pressure of having to win the game affect her, as she held her serve with relative ease.
In the next game, Flipkens was serving to take the first set. The qualifier soon found herself facing two break points once more. Vandeweghe only needed one of the break point opportunities that she had, as she took advantage of her opponent cracking under the pressure of serving out the set.
Vandeweghe levelled the set in the next game, as she comfortably held her serve, taking the score to 5-5. The American had all the momentum and she utilised this, to break Flipkens to love and give herself a 6-5 lead in the set.
The world number 43 now found herself serving to win the set but did not faulter as she held to love and took the set with her first set point chance.
Vandeweghe Cruises Through The Second Set
The second set, was completely different to the first. The first set was a closely fought battle but the second set was comfortably won Vandeweghe. Both players held their opening service game in the second set, however for Flipkens it was all downhill from there.
Vandeweghe brought all the momentum she had gained towards the end of the first set into the second set. In the third game of the set, the American took a set and a break up lead, after she broke Flipkens serve to love. Vandeweghe consolidated her break by holding her service game with ease.
Flipkens could not find a way to stop Vandeweghe's momentum. The qualifier once again got broken to love in the fifth game, meaning she had lost 16 of the last 17 points available. The Belgian player found herself a set and a double break down and did not look likely to find a way back into the match.
Vandeweghe's dominance did not seem to be ending, as she once again held her serve to love, giving herself a 5-1 lead in the set. There was some slight joy for Flipkens towards the end of the set, as she managed to hold her serve, despite facing a match point. After four deuces in the game, the qualifier eventually held her serve, keeping her in the match for at least one more game.
The match, however, was soon over as the world number 43 raced through her service game to capture a 7-5, 6-2 victory. Vandeweghe did not crack under the pressure of serving for the match, holding her serve to love once more.
After just over an hour, Vandeweghe got the victory over her opponent. The American now advances into the second round where she will face, the new world number seven Belinda Bencic.
Match Statistics
The match statistics show that both players were fairly good at serving. As both Vandeweghe and Flipkens had a first serve percentage in the late 50's. Vandeweghe had a first serve percentage of 57, whilst Flipkens was 56 percent.
Both players hit 3 aces, however, Flipkens hit one more double fault than Vandeweghe. Vandeweghe only hit one double fault, where as Flipkens hit 2.