Wozniacki makes Dubai final
Source: Agencies |
February 20, 2011, Sunday
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CAROLINE Wozniacki reached the final of the Dubai Championships by beating Serbian sixth seed Jelena Jankovic 7-5, 6-3 yesterday.
The top seed from Denmark, who will return to the top of the world rankings this week, will next face 11th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta or 16th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.
Jankovic made the more positive start, breaking Wozniacki's serve to love as she built up a 3-0 lead and then holding off two break points when leading 4-2.
However, she failed to take advantage of four set points as she led 5-3, 40-0 and then held an advantage point, before Wozniacki recovered the break by rushing her opponent into a forehand error.
Wozniacki then broke again to lead 6-5 and held off two break points as she served out the set.
Jankovic, who had been taken to three sets in her previous two matches, clearly began to tire in the second set, and an exchange of three consecutive breaks left Wozniacki leading 4-3.
Once again Jankovic held but failed to convert two break points as Wozniacki held for 5-3, and the Dane then broke to love in the next game to seal her victory.
"I didn't think about the score," Wozniacki told reporters when asked about being set points down. "I just felt, 'Okay, just hit the ball. Just make her win the point. Just play aggressively. You have to dictate. If you make a mistake, fine, that's what happens. But don't just put the ball in because you're done'."
Jankovic admitted that she had not played her set points well and that her recent long matches had taken their toll on her.
"I had those set points and I kind of rushed a little bit," said Jankovic. "I didn't really take my time, you know, and play those points. But she was very solid and she ran a lot of balls down.
"Obviously, you know, I'm a little bit exhausted. The last couple of days took a lot out of me and maybe it showed today. But I still fought very hard, as hard as I could. I really gave my best, but credit to her."
Jankovic took two hours and 50 minutes to beat Australian fourth seed Samantha Stosur on Friday. After trailing 1-4 in the deciding set she recovered to win 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (4).
In Memphis, Tennessee, Andy Roddick overcame a shaky start to beat Lleyton Hewitt 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.
The top-seeded Roddick needed 2 hours, 13 minutes to win his sixth straight match against the Australian and improve his record for the year to 10-2. He next plays Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated Michael Russell 6-4, 6-2.
Canadian Milos Raonic hit 20 aces as he defeated American Robert Kendrick 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to advance his second straight ATP semifinal. He will next play No. 4 seed Mardy Fish, who beat defending champion Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-4.
(Agencies)
The top seed from Denmark, who will return to the top of the world rankings this week, will next face 11th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta or 16th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.
Jankovic made the more positive start, breaking Wozniacki's serve to love as she built up a 3-0 lead and then holding off two break points when leading 4-2.
However, she failed to take advantage of four set points as she led 5-3, 40-0 and then held an advantage point, before Wozniacki recovered the break by rushing her opponent into a forehand error.
Wozniacki then broke again to lead 6-5 and held off two break points as she served out the set.
Jankovic, who had been taken to three sets in her previous two matches, clearly began to tire in the second set, and an exchange of three consecutive breaks left Wozniacki leading 4-3.
Once again Jankovic held but failed to convert two break points as Wozniacki held for 5-3, and the Dane then broke to love in the next game to seal her victory.
"I didn't think about the score," Wozniacki told reporters when asked about being set points down. "I just felt, 'Okay, just hit the ball. Just make her win the point. Just play aggressively. You have to dictate. If you make a mistake, fine, that's what happens. But don't just put the ball in because you're done'."
Jankovic admitted that she had not played her set points well and that her recent long matches had taken their toll on her.
"I had those set points and I kind of rushed a little bit," said Jankovic. "I didn't really take my time, you know, and play those points. But she was very solid and she ran a lot of balls down.
"Obviously, you know, I'm a little bit exhausted. The last couple of days took a lot out of me and maybe it showed today. But I still fought very hard, as hard as I could. I really gave my best, but credit to her."
Jankovic took two hours and 50 minutes to beat Australian fourth seed Samantha Stosur on Friday. After trailing 1-4 in the deciding set she recovered to win 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (4).
In Memphis, Tennessee, Andy Roddick overcame a shaky start to beat Lleyton Hewitt 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.
The top-seeded Roddick needed 2 hours, 13 minutes to win his sixth straight match against the Australian and improve his record for the year to 10-2. He next plays Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated Michael Russell 6-4, 6-2.
Canadian Milos Raonic hit 20 aces as he defeated American Robert Kendrick 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to advance his second straight ATP semifinal. He will next play No. 4 seed Mardy Fish, who beat defending champion Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-4.
(Agencies)
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