Monday 23 January 2012

Wozniacki fast off the line


The top seed Caroline Wozniacki impressed in the first 3 rounds, not dropping a set, although Anna Tatishvili took her to a second set tie break.  She should expect tougher competition in the form of 13th seed Jelena Jankovic, who also came into this match on the back of straight sets wins, losing only 10 games in total.

The pair had met 7 times, with Jelena winning the first 4 and Caroline the last 3, all in 2011. 

The first to try her wares at the service line was the Serbian number one.  After having 40-15, Jelena wasted several chances, and the game lasted nearly 10 minutes - seemed like hours.  Finally all her efforts were for nought, and Wozniacki broke serve.  In an instant Caroline held and once again we saw the tennis balls back with Jankovic as she attempted for the second time to win a service game.

A second time she was broken and the cycle continued unabated.  Wozniacki played with a Federer-like precision in the first set, and the power with which she played the ground strokes made the accuracy that much more impressive.  Jankovic did not lack for ability in her shot making - her inability lay in the fact that she could not force a way past or through the wall that Wozniacki formed.  To anticipate what direction Jelena would go and what stroke she would play to the extent that Caroline did was uncanny.

6-0 was a horrible scoreline for Jankovic, and naturally the universal hope was for a competitive second set.  So much for that wish - Jankovic once more failed on serve losing it twice to trail 1-4.  Wozniacki at this stage not being tested at all.  Then a new attitude was delivered by emergency vehicle to Rod Laver Arena, signed for by Jelena's coach and at the change of ends the 13th seed took possession of it.

With the change in approach, Jankovic began attacking, taking risks and Wozniacki became rattled.  Instead of cruising to a 5-1 lead with the almost certain break of Jankovic to follow and win the match, We saw Jelena hitting some glorious passing shots and playing a variety of shots to worry Wozniacki into mistakes.  4-2 after the break, and the confidence gained from the reversal of fortune flowed into the next game where Jankovic held serve for 3-4 , admittedly after a struggle.

Despite steadying to 5-3, Wozniacki had lost her dominance and the play maker was definitely Jankovic.  Serving for the match at 5-4, the world number one wilted, and amazingly the set was even at 5-5.  Sadly what gave Jelena all her first set problems came once again to haunt her and she suffered yet another service break.   At her second attempt, Caroline Wozniacki served out the match 6-0 7-5.

Quarter final time with Kim Clijsters.

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