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France's Aravane Rezai - Source: Photosport -
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Unseeded Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai become the first player into
the ASB Classic semi-finals on Thursday, accounting for Romanian
Edina Gallovits in an entertaining match on centre court.
2008 ASB Classic finalist Rezai won the quarter-final 6-3 6-2 in
just under 90 minutes in hot conditions in Auckland.
It was a fairly even contest, to be expected in a match pitting the
world number 77 (Rezai) against the world number 78
(Gallovits).
The 25-year-old Gallovits was let down badly by her serve, with a
first serve percentage of just 41 percent and nine double
faults.
Rezai has a unique style, both in terms of her on-court outfits
which she designs herself (claiming all of the major labels are
"boring") and her gunslinger approach to tennis.
It is a stand and deliver system which keeps the rallies short as
she goes for her shots.
On a good day it can be spectacular, but well things go awry (as in
the 2009 ASB Classic final vs Lindsay Davenport) it can all turn to
custard.
Gallovits showed an early willingness to go for her shots, and
managed eight clean winners (Rezai, seven ) in the first set.
But she undid all the good work somewhat with 13 unforced errors,
as the Romanian failed to play the percentages.
The 21-year-old Rezai forced twelve break point opportunities,
converting four, which proved the difference in the opening set as
Rezai wrapped it up 6-3 in exactly 40 minutes.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with the Romanian
fighting hard in rallies but undoing all the good work at the
service line.
A double fault when facing match point really summed up the match
for Gallovits.
Rezai will face either top seeded Russian Elena Dementieva or
fifth seeded Israeli Shahar Peer in the semi finals on Friday.
