With her leg wrapped because of a meniscus tear, Andrea Petkovic confronted 2009 champion Jelena Jankovic in last night's Western & Southern Open, which Jankovic won, 7-6, 6-1. After getting broken in the first set, Jankovic put things right, and--as the match wore on--looked like the Jankovic of 2007 and 2008, but with a better serve. It was an excellent performance, filled with signature down-the-line shots and the kind of movement that sent the 13th seed all the way to the number 1 spot in the world earlier in her career.
Petkovic, seeded 9th at the event, was possibly hampered by her knee, but played well, and during the first set, gave Jankovic back a good deal of her own brand of tennis.
In the final, Jankovic will play seed 4th Maria Sharapova, who defeated 2nd seed Vera Zvonareva 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Despite getting off to a great start (and hitting three consecutive aces at one point), Zvonareva eventually, visibly, lost belief in herself, as Sharapova began to control the rallies. Neither player did well in the second serve department, and together, they double-faulted 17 times.
Excellent performance indeed. We were back to the fall of 2008 as the Jankovic ground game clicked into that unmistakably smooth and rhythmic pulse. Commentators were audibly drooling at the "sparkling" net game and volleying skills. Maria Sharapova in the final of prestigous hard-court final presents a stiff challenge. Jelena is going to need to bring her "A" game.
ReplyDeleteOne way or the other, it's a great pair to have in the Cincinnati final.
ReplyDelete