Baltacha out of Birmingham

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:33

Baltacha, whose match was held over from Wednesday because of weather delays, took the first set in a tie-break but the 17-year-old Russian fought back to claim a 6-7 6-3 7-6 victory in two hours and 31 minutes.

With matches backing up Pavlyuchenkova now faces the prospect of playing her third round clash against India’s Sania Mirza, who knocked out British number one Anne Keothavong on Wednesday, later today.

The first set went with serve before the 25-year-old Baltacha edged ahead to take the lead.

Games also went with service in the second set, which was interrupted by a brief rain shower, until the Briton was broken to go 5-3 down.

Pavlyuchenkova, the world number 31 and 77 places above her opponent, seized the advantage to level things up.

The third set mirrored the first but this time it was Pavlyuchenkova who was quickest out of the blocks in the tie-break and she closed out the match in relative comfort.

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