Patty Schnyder played her second round Family Circle Cup match in the Althea Gibson Club Court this morning, and things couldn't have gone much better for her. She rushed to a 3-0 lead over Michelle Larcher de Brito, but the intense player from Portugal, whose backhand is formidable, got herself back into the match. Schnyder stayed calm and broke again, however, to take the first set 6-3.
It was in the second set that Schnyder brought out all the shots for which she is known. Her service game was outstanding (1st and 2nd serve percentages of 71 and 62), and she looped and spun the ball all around the court, staying patient while her opponent made errors. Schnyder was so dominant in the second set that Larcher de Brito won only one game.
Larcher de Brito is a good hitter, but like some of her contemporaries, she lacks patience. In this case, the veteran took advantage of that impatience. If Schnyder can continue serving at this level, she can be competitive in this tournament.
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