[情報] Henin stays on track for world top …
※ [本文轉錄自 Tennis 看板]
作者: zerkchu (zerkchu) 看板: Tennis
標題: [情報] Henin stays on track for world top spot
時間: Thu Oct 16 09:30:23 2003
Henin stays on track for world top spot
ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP) - Justine Henin-Hardenne kept on track to take the number one ranking this week when she defeated Israel's Anna Pistolesi 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA tournament.
The second-seeded Belgian must win the title on Sunday to replace compatriot Kim Clijsters at the top.
But there was defeat here for fourth seed Elena Dementieva, who was beaten 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 by fellow Russian and French Open semi-finalist Nadia Petrova.
Dementieva, who like several players has been suffering from a cold and sore throat, looked tired and lacked the sharpness she has shown over recent weeks as she won titles in Bali and Shanghai and reached the semi-finals of Moscow.
Another Russian, seventh seed Vera Zvonareva, eased past American Amy Frazier 6-3, 7-5, and Jelena Dokic claimed a welcome victory by outlasting American Alexandra Stevenson 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
Henin-Hardenne dominated the opening set against Pistolesi, but the Israeli stretched her all the way in the second. Her persistance in the rallies, combined with both a big forehand and backhand, kept her in contention, and she broke Henin-Hardenne to lead 6-5.
But she was unable to serve out for the set, double-faulting to go into the tiebreak which she lost 7-5.
"I know she's a big fighter and with her it's never over, and I lost a little bit of my aggression in the second set," said Henin-Hardenne. "I was serving well, but she adjusted her game and played much better.
"Also it's the end of the season and I think everybody starts to get a little bit tired, in my case for sure. I think I've played 80 matches this year. My level is great right now, but I have to take it match by match."
Dokic withstood a barrage of 16 aces to overcome Stevenson and reach the quarter-finals.
It is only the fifth time in 29 tournaments this year that the Yugoslav has won more than one match at an event, as her ranking has slumped from eight at the beginning of the year to 25 this week.
"I'm happy with that," said Dokic. "The last two matches I've had, in the last 15, 16 months I wouldn't have won them. It's coming together a little bit, and mentally I'm fighting and motivated to win. My concentration was much better than it has been all year.
"She started off well and played well the whole match, and I thought that if I lost I wouldn't be disappointed," added Dokic.
"It was just a matter of getting that one break, I think, and I got it at the right time and it turned the match around."
Dokic will shortly make a decision on whether to play at the Australian Open next January.
She has not played at the year's first Grand Slam since 2001, after her controversial father, Damir, criticised Tennis Australia for lack of support and moved the family back to Europe.
"It's definitely on my mind," she said.
"I'll make up my mind in the next few weeks. I would love to go back and play, and it's fifty-fifty at the moment. It's been a long season and it depends how I feel, and I want to cut (the number of) my tournaments down to around 20 or 22 next year."
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※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 203.219.101.22
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