In the third set, Black was up 4-1 and serving, only to again lose five straight games, with Ducu's variety, and especially her drop shot, proving the difference. Ducu refused to hit two balls at the same pace or height, alternating a moonball with a penetrating backhand, a slice or a volley. But it was the drop shot, executed perfectly regardless of her court position or the game score, that produced winner after winner, and in the final game, with Black serving at 4-5, Ducu hit two drop shot return winners, the final one on match point, giving the 17-year-old her first trip to a Grade A semifinal.
Now it's time to make an impact on the ITF circuit because apart from a final in a 10k in February, her pro results have been a big MEH. Homegirl is turning 18 in April, it's now or never !
Ioana and Leduc never meet before, or at least I don`t find any info about it, but I expect Ioana to take the Trophy so I`m not worried about the Canadian. Go Ioana !
It`s been a long time since Ioana enter a tournament, don`t know why, maybe she was injured or just because all the G1-G2 tournaments were played so for from Romania, but here are some of the events she will attend in the next:
30th Perin Memorial (G1) - Croatia - Clay (Outdoor) - No. 1 seed (25 March - 30 March 2014) VIII ITF Junior Benicarlo (G2) - Spain - Clay (Outdoor) - No. 1 seed (01 April - 05 April 2014) Trofeo Juan Carlos Ferrerro (G1) - Spain - Clay (Outdoor) - No. 1 seed (08 April - 13 April 2014)
(1)Ioana Ducu (ROU) v Katarina Stresnakova (SVK)
Anastasiya Fedoryshyn (UKR) v Karolina Novotna (CZE)
Pauline Jahren (NOR) v Lana Slavica (CRO)
Chiara Grimm (SUI) v (16)Hana Mraz (SLO)