2011 Whirlpool Monterrey Open: Jelena Jankovic vs Anastasija Sevastova Preview
Top seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia will meet fifth seeded Latvian, Anastasija Sevastova in the quarterfinals at the Whirlpool Monterrey Open on Friday.
This will be the second meeting between Jankovic and Sevastova. The Latvian leads the head to head record 1-0. She defeated the Serbian 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in their only previous meeting, at the Monterrey Open last year.
Jankovic started her season at the Medibank International as the sixth seed, where she was beaten by world number 19 Aravane Rezai in three sets 5-7, 6-2, 3-6. The Serbian was upset by World number 54 Shuai Peng of China in the second round at the Australian
Open. The 26 year old was also defeated in the semi-finals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships by world number two Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets 5-7, 3-6. World number six, Jankovic entered the Qatar Ladies Open as the fifth seed, where she lost
to Vera Zvonareva of Russia 1-6, 6-2, 4-6 in the semi-finals.
Sevastova had a good start to the year as she qualified for the fourth round at the Australian Open, where she lost to the top seed Wozniacki in straight sets 3-6, 4-6. She was beaten by Kaia Kanepi, ranked 17th in the world, 6-7(5), 2-6 in the
opening round at the 19 Open. The Latvian reached the second round at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, where she lost to world number ten Agnieszka Radwanska 5-7, 4-6.
Jankovic is looking in great form in this tournament, winning both her previous matches in straight sets. In her second round match, Jankovic defeated Sybille Bammer of Austria in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. She beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain 6-4, 6-1
in the opening round.
The Serbian said, after her match with Bammer, "I had a tough opponent tonight. It was not easy at all but I am happy to win. I played Sevastova last year and lost. This time I'll try my best to do well. I look forward to playing tomorrow."
On the other hand, Sevastova was stretched to three sets in her second round win over Alize Cornet of France. The Austrian defeated the French 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in just over two hours. She prevailed over qualifier Laura Pous-Tio of Spain in straight sets 6-2,
6-4 in the first round.
Former world number one, Jankovic is looking to win her first title of the year at this tournament. The Serbian turned pro in 2000 and has won 12 titles in her career. In comparison, her next round opponent has won just one title in her career.
The winner of the match between Jankovic and Sevastova will face either unseeded Olga Govortsova of Belarus or number eight seed Polona Hercog of Slovania in the semi-final.
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