(more photos below) Ana fell to a frustrating 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 defeat to Czech world No.46 Lucie Safarova in the second round of the Rogers Cup. The 11th seed led 6-3, 5-3 and thus served for the match, but she could not close out victory.
Ana showed improved form from her three-set win over Magdalena Rybarikova yesterday in what was an intense encounter. She was the better player during the first half of the match, but ultimately she paid the price for not taking her chances.
The 21-year-old broke early in the opening set and clinched a one-set lead. A break in the seventh game of the second set put her in firm control and she served for the match two games later. Safarova hit back, as Ana struggled to maintain a good length on her groundstrokes.
In fact, the Czech reeled off seven consecutive games as she took the second set and gained a 3-0 lead in the decider. She was full of confidence and was taking the ball early, in order to nullify Ana's greater power off the floor.
A superb cross court backhand winner, hit on the rise, earned Ana a break-back point when trailing 2-4, but Safarova saved it. The left-hander served brilliantly and could not be denied victory.
Ana's next tournament is the US Open, which begins in New York on 31 August.
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