by Spaniard Cristina Bucsa had a tough time of things against debutant Francesca Curmi, but experience enabled her to win it in three sets 3-6, 6-3; 7-5 in the Palermo Ladies Open. Having had the world number 81 on tenterhooks, world number 326 Curmi just fell short at the critical moments in the match. Francesca Curmi’s first appearance in the main draw of a WTA 250 tournament also marked the first appearance for any Maltese in a tournament of this level.
Curmi Stuns Bucsa in the Opening Set
The match was played in the sweltering thirty degree heat and lasted just over two hours. Curmi was on the receiving end of Cristina Bucsa’s serve in the opening match and the Maltese got off to a flying start by earning two break points at 15-40. She landed the break by forcing a return into the net from the Spaniard. The Maltese held serve before backing it with another break on Bucsa’s serve to cruise to a 3-0 lead in what was a dream start for the debutant.
However, the Spaniard readjusted her compass and shifted momentum in the next games. Curmi’s service game was one of the longest going into multiple deuces, but Bucsa landed the break with her fourth break point. She then held serve comfortably before landing the double break to even the score in the next game 3-3.
Despite this, Bucsa’s next service game was another tight one that went to deuce and marked another twist in the tale. Curmi gained the advantage and Bucsa succumbed the break with a double fault to enable Curmi to nudge forward once again 4-3. The Maltese opened a 40-0 lead in the next service game, and though the Spaniard delivered some pinpoint shots to get to 40-30, Curmi secured the hold with the next shot. At 5-3, the Spaniard returned on serve in a bid to stay in the set. The Maltese drove deep returns to open a 0-40 lead and thus had three set points in hand. The Spaniard was broken to love as her return went long, with Curmi taking the set 6-3.
Bucsa Returns Fire
Francesca Curmi opened the second set on serve and Bucsa landed an immediate break. In fact, neither player was able to hold serve in the first three games. At 2-1 the game appeared to be heading for another break with Curmi opening a 0-30 lead. However, Bucsa drew level before nudging forward to stick the first hold of the set and open a cushion of 3-1.
However, Curmi followed suit and following a hold, landed another break of her own to even things at 3-3. Curmi relinquished another break in the next service game, which was another that went to deuce, enabling Bucsa to gain the lead, 4-3. The Spaniard then held comfortably before raining fire on the Maltese. At 40-15 a double fault came at the worst possible time as a motorcycle appears to back-fire in the vicinity and appeared to throw off the Maltese, allowing the Spaniard to win the set 6-3 and send the match into a decider.
Bucsa Airs Frustration but Experience Gets Her Through
The Spaniard started the set brightly, holding serve before dealing a break to Curmi, opening a 2-0 lead. However, the Maltese showed her fighting spirit to break back and then hold to love to level things at 2-2. Three more breaks followed, swinging the set 4-3 in favour of Curmi, prompting the Spaniard to throw the racquet in frustration.
The Maltese backed up the break with a solid hold allowing her to nudge forward into 5-3 and land the pressure back onto Bucsa’s shoulders to hold to stay in the match. Curmi sensed her opportunity to end the tie with a break and gave Bucsa a tough time on serve. However, the game went to a deuce, Bucsa came in clutch with two successive points to win the game and stay in the match.
At 5-4, pressure returned firmly to Curmi’s shoulders as she attempted to serve out the match. However, it was not to be, with the Spaniard using her experience to secure another break, thus extending the decider at 5-5.
The Spaniard appeared to have regained her composure completely on serve, holding comfortably to love, to nudge forward 6-5 and landed the pressure back on Curmi to hold serve to stay in the match.
The Maltese fell 30-40 down but facing match point gritted her teeth and cancelled it to send the match to deuce. Curmi had her eyes on game point, but Bucsa attacked at the net to cancel it. Bucsa then set herself up to match point two. Curmi took charge of the rally but after having done all the hard work to force a short return from the Spaniard, she attacked at the net but her forehand went just wide. Game, set and match, Cristina Bucsa.
There were just three points between the two players in the end, with Bucsa taking the match in three sets 3-6, 6-3; 7-5. It will be a tough one to take for Curmi, having come so close to progressing twice in the match, in her first appearance at a main draw of a WTA 250 tournament.
On the other hand, the Spaniard will be relieved to have gotten herself into the next round following some shaky moments on court. She will next face Clara Burel who upset the number eight seed Julia Grabher in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.
