Defending champion and No.9 seed Mona Barthel advanced to the semi-finals today, defeating Bulgarian opponent Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 6-3 to keep her title defence alive.
Barthel always looked in control of this match, capturing the break in the fifth game of the match before consolidating to lead 4-2 early. Barthel broke the Bulgarians serve again in the ninth game, continuing to take the first set 6-3.
Barthel continued to outplay her opponent in the second set, holding to love in the 3rd game before capturing a break in the fourth to lead 3-1. Pironkova had the chance to break back in the next match, but Barthel saved the break point, never looking back from there on her way to a 6-3 6-3 win.
An ominous sign for her semi-final opponent, Barthel feels that she is a better player this year than when she took the title last year. “I’ve improved a lot,” said the 22-year-old.
“Last year was my first time on the tour and I feel like I learned so much last year playing all these tournaments and playing against the top players and I think that helped me a lot.”
“My serve has got better and I feel like my groundstrokes are better, but of course last year I was playing great tennis as well, especially here, but maybe a little more confidence this year.”
Barthel rewrote the history books of the Moorilla Hobart International last year becoming the first woman to win the tournament after coming through qualifying. She has a chance to rewrite history again as the only player to win two Hobart International titles. But she isn’t thinking too far ahead at this stage.
“I’ll see it match by match,” she said. “It’s still two more matches to go. I think it won’t get easier and the semi-final is going to be a tough match and I’m just happy to be in the semi-final.
Barthel will show if she has what it takes to defend her title tomorrow, when she plays the winner of tonight’s match between the in form Kirsten Flipkens and the speedy Monica Niculescu of Romania.
By Nick Cuthbertson.