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Begu Triumphs Over Ma in Beijing
Yexin Ma v. Irina-Camelia Begu
In an intriguing first-round clash at the WTA Beijing 2024 tournament, Irina-Camelia Begu managed to overcome a spirited effort from Yafan Ma, securing a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory. The key to Begu's win lay in her ability to bounce back from a shaky first set and dominate the ensuing sets with superior consistency and mental fortitude.
In the opening set, Ma capitalized on Begu's slow start, breaking her serve multiple times to cruise to a 6-1 win. Ma's aggressive return game was evident as she constantly pushed Begu on the back foot. The Romanian struggled with her first serve, landing only 48% of them in. Ma took full advantage, creating 11 break point opportunities, converting 5, which proved decisive.
The second set told a different story. Begu found her rhythm and drastically improved her serve percentage to 64%. She also showcased resilience in the longer rallies, which began turning the tide in her favor. At 4-4, the match's turning point arrived when Begu broke Ma's serve after a grueling exchange that included six deuces and multiple break-point saves. This pivotal game allowed Begu to serve out the set 6-4, leveraging strong baseline play and strategic shot selection.
By the third set, Begu had clearly gained confidence. She continued to pressure Ma's second serve, winning 67% of those points. This translated into a string of service breaks that left Ma with limited opportunities to stay in the match. Begu dominated the final set 6-1, proving adept both tactically and physically, minimizing her unforced errors and showcasing a powerful serve, which she landed 71% of the time.
Overall, Begu's match performance, particularly her ability to recover from a difficult first set and impose her game in the latter stages, marked her as a robust contender in the tournament. Fans were treated to a statistical masterclass in resilience and adaptability – key elements to her well-deserved victory.
