[新聞] Kanepi Serves Up SF Win, Hantuchova Ne
BRISBANE, Australia -
Few would have guessed the final of the Premier-level Brisbane International
would pit No.24 against No.34, especially given there were eight Top 20 players
in the field - including four former No.1s. But that is exactly what has
happened, as Daniela Hantuchova and Kaia Kanepi kept their good weeks going on
Friday night with a pair of semifinal victories.
Hantuchova, ranked No.24, was the first to move into the final. Having been 0-9
against Kim Clijsters she was a big underdog in their match, but with a little
help from the Belgian's left hip injury she was able to make it 10th time
lucky, moving through with a 67(4) 31 retirement win. Hantuchova had all kinds
of leads in the first set - 4-1, 5-3, 6-5 - but was unable to close it out;
after taking an early 3-1 lead in the second set, her No.5-seeded opponent had
to stop.
"I felt my left hip getting tighter and tighter, to the point I couldn't go
forward with my upper body or put pressure on it when I was landing on my
serve," Clijsters said of her injury. "I think it was the smartest choice to
stop and not let it get any worse. I'm going to go to the hospital tomorrow for
some more tests, but this one should take little over a week to heal. I have a
good feeling."
"Kim isn't the kind of player who would ask for a timeout unless she really
had to, so obviously there was a good reason to," Hantuchova said. "I was so
focused on my game I didn't realize what was happening until she came to the
net. I'm not sure what the injury is, but before a Grand Slam you don't want to
risk anything - I hope she'll be fine and ready to play in Melbourne."
Even late in the first set when Clijsters came back, Hantuchova looked in
solid form. "I came to Australia almost two weeks early, preparing for the
Australian season in Noosa. I can't believe I didn't do it earlier - it only
took me 12 years to realize how good it would be for me," she joked. "I'm
really enjoying my tennis at the moment. Even after I lost the first set, I
felt if I could keep playing this way I could still win the match. And I
started well in the second set."
Following upsets over No.7 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and No.2 seed Andrea
Petkovic, Kanepi - ranked No.34 in the world - continued her string of upsets
with a commanding 63 60 win over the No.3 seed, Francesca Schiavone. She won
eight straight games from 4-3 up in the first set and was particularly lethal
on serve, winning 28 of 32 points on her delivery in the match.
"I had some problems with my serve yesterday, so we focused on making it better
today. It was working," Kanepi said. "In previous years I've been a surprise
player - I was able to beat higher ranked players, but then maybe lose to lower
ranked players. Now I'm playing more stable, not making as many errors, and
beating top players more consistently. Hopefully I can get that ranking myself
one day. I'm just not trying for a winner on every shot."
Both Hantuchova and Kanepi have struggled in WTA finals before, Hantuchova
going 4-8 and Kanepi 1-3. One stat that does separate them though is their
head-to-head - Hantuchova has won all three of their career meetings.
"I have to play my own game - be aggressive, be patient, serve well - I have to
do everything well," Kanepi said of the final. "At the beginning of the year
everyone is trying to find their game, and whoever finds it faster goes far."
"I've got nothing to lose. I'm in the finals," Hantuchova commented. "I'm
really enjoying my time here in Queensland, I've already had so many great
weeks here, so no matter what, I will have great memories to take with me."
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