By Etienne Stekelenburg
May 26 2004

Russian Vera Zvonareva is through to the next round of the French Open after defeating Magui Serna of Spain. The 19 year old from Moscow won her match in three sets 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. In their first meeting Serna started out as the better player. Serna had the change to take a 4-0 lead in the first but lost her service game at a 3-0 lead.

Zvonareva was not playing her best game and looked pretty much annoyed with herself on every point she lost. She found a way to break for 3-1 on Serna’s service game after the Spanish player hits three errors.

Zvonareva held her own serve after playing a good forehand winner and keeping her own errors to a minimum.

Serna still was playing a better game when she was leading 5-3. But after Zvonareva held her own serve she managed to break Serna’s serve to tie for 5 all.

Instead of taking a 6-5 lead Zvonareva lets Serna back into the game. She hits a backhand winner for 0-15, Zvonareva hits a ball wide for 0-30 and Serna is at breakpoint when she volleys at the net. Coming back to 15-40 Zvonareva hits a double fault and Serna breaks for 6-5.

After 49 minutes Serna takes the first set 7-5 winning her service game on love.

In the second set in was clear Zvonareva had to fight back to save the match. After losing her first service game the Russian breaks back and ties 1 all in the second set.

After 25 minutes in the second set Zvonareva takes the last one of three set points when Serna hits the ball into the net. Magui Serna started to make more unforced errors and Vera Zvonareva took her chance to come back into the match and win the second set 6-1.

Zvonareva continued her progress and breaks Serna’s first service game in the third set. The 25 year old from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria could not handle Zvonareva’s power shots and lost her first game.

Serna not pleased with her game stepped it up and earned herself three breakpoints to equal the score 1 all. At 15-40 Zvonareva hits a drop shot going wide.

Serna started to make more unforced errors and Zvonareva was getting more confident with her game. The young Russian was leading 5-1 but is getting problems finishing the match. She lets Serna come back to 5-4.

Serving for the match Zvonareva is trailing 0-30. With a solid serve she makes Serna hitting the ball wide and with a crosscourt winner she ties to 30 all. A good forehand winner gives Zvonareva her first match point. Serna plays the ball short and almost won the point but Zvonareva managed to hit the ball crosscourt for the game, set and match.

It took 42 minutes to end the third set. Zvonareva had 25 winners and 47 unforced errors. Serna hits 14 winners and 41 unforced errors.