Djokovic, Wozniacki into China Open finals
Source: Agencies |
October 10, 2010, Sunday
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DEFENDING champion Novak Djokovic reached the China Open final in Beijing yesterday by beating American John Isner 7-6 (1), 6-4.
On the women's side, new No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki beat Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-2 to reach the title match. The Dane will play Vera Zvonareva, who powered past Li Na 6-3, 6-3.
The second-ranked Djokovic pounded away from the baseline and executed sharply at the net to nail three of 12 breakpoints and drop serve only once against the 2.09-meter Isner.
"I had a lot of opportunities throughout the whole match and used them when I needed to, so just happy to get through this one," said Djokovic, who will meet David Ferrer in the final. The Spaniard outlasted Croat Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in their semifinal last night.
Djokovic beat Isner in their only previous encounter, in the Davis Cup in March, but it took the Serb more than 4 hours and six match points. On that occasion, he had a tough time reading Isner's 210 kilometers per hour serve.
But in Beijing, Djokovic felt "more comfortable returning, especially in that second set.
"I definitely knew that the key to today's match was to return well and, yet again, to get him into the longer rallies because that's where my chances were," said Djokovic.
The US Open runner-up is already looking ahead to playing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in this week's Shanghai Rolex Masters.
"I have enough energy for the final, definitely, and for the next week. I feel fresh and confident and just (want to) keep on going," Djokovic said.
Djokovic has also now qualified for November's season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London for the fourth year in a row.
Wozniacki converted six of 11 breakpoints to improve to 4-1 against the 18th-ranked Peer of Israel, who broke serve three times.
"I feel good out there on court and hopefully tomorrow I can play a good match against Vera," Wozniacki said. "She's in really good shape, so it's not going to be easy."
The 20-year-old Wozniacki had hurt her knee in her quarterfinal win against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia on Friday.
"It felt better today than yesterday," Wozniacki said. "It's not getting worse, so that's a positive."
Zvonareva had to contend with the home crowd's raucous support for Li but never lost focus, converting six of eight breakpoints and dropping serve three times.
"I was just trying to do my best on the court and not think about anything else," said Russian Zvonareva, the Wimbledon and the US Open finalist who will rise to No. 3 in the rankings this week.
"I knew I just had to hang in there and counterpunch when I could. Get every single ball and fight for every point, and I think I did that."
On the women's side, new No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki beat Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-2 to reach the title match. The Dane will play Vera Zvonareva, who powered past Li Na 6-3, 6-3.
The second-ranked Djokovic pounded away from the baseline and executed sharply at the net to nail three of 12 breakpoints and drop serve only once against the 2.09-meter Isner.
"I had a lot of opportunities throughout the whole match and used them when I needed to, so just happy to get through this one," said Djokovic, who will meet David Ferrer in the final. The Spaniard outlasted Croat Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in their semifinal last night.
Djokovic beat Isner in their only previous encounter, in the Davis Cup in March, but it took the Serb more than 4 hours and six match points. On that occasion, he had a tough time reading Isner's 210 kilometers per hour serve.
But in Beijing, Djokovic felt "more comfortable returning, especially in that second set.
"I definitely knew that the key to today's match was to return well and, yet again, to get him into the longer rallies because that's where my chances were," said Djokovic.
The US Open runner-up is already looking ahead to playing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in this week's Shanghai Rolex Masters.
"I have enough energy for the final, definitely, and for the next week. I feel fresh and confident and just (want to) keep on going," Djokovic said.
Djokovic has also now qualified for November's season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London for the fourth year in a row.
Wozniacki converted six of 11 breakpoints to improve to 4-1 against the 18th-ranked Peer of Israel, who broke serve three times.
"I feel good out there on court and hopefully tomorrow I can play a good match against Vera," Wozniacki said. "She's in really good shape, so it's not going to be easy."
The 20-year-old Wozniacki had hurt her knee in her quarterfinal win against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia on Friday.
"It felt better today than yesterday," Wozniacki said. "It's not getting worse, so that's a positive."
Zvonareva had to contend with the home crowd's raucous support for Li but never lost focus, converting six of eight breakpoints and dropping serve three times.
"I was just trying to do my best on the court and not think about anything else," said Russian Zvonareva, the Wimbledon and the US Open finalist who will rise to No. 3 in the rankings this week.
"I knew I just had to hang in there and counterpunch when I could. Get every single ball and fight for every point, and I think I did that."
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