2011 Whirlpool Monterrey Open: Jelena Jankovic vs Polona Hercog – Semi-final Preview
Top seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic will face eight seeded Slovenian Polona Hercog in the semi-final of the Whirlpool Abierto Monterrey Open on Saturday.
The 26-years-old Serb reached this spot after destroying 5th seeded Latvian Anastasija Sevastova with a breadstick. She has yet to lose a set in this tournament as she dumped Spanish Lourdes Dominguez Lino and Austrian
Sybille Bammer in the first two rounds in straight sets.
Hercog, on the other hand, rallied back to win against the Belarusian Olga Govortsova in three sets in the quarter-finals. She defeated German Angelique Kerber in straight sets and overpowered Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in
three sets in the first two rounds.
World number 6, Jankovic has won six of her last seven matches. She has also won seven in a row when her opponent is a big server like the Latvian. Despite early exits at Sydney and the Australian Open, she is in her top form this
season. She reached the semi-finals at Dubai and Doha before losing to eventual winners Caroline Wozniacki and Vera Zvonareva respectively.
World ranked 62nd, Hercog has won four of last five matches though all her victories have been at this WTA Premier event. She hasn’t had much progress this season, having been ousted in the early rounds at Brisbane,
Sydney, Australian Open, Bogota and Acapulco.
In their last matches, the Serbian committed three double faults and had a convincing first serve percentage of 57 percent as opposed to Hercog’s four double faults but a higher first serve percentage of 72 percent. However, Jankovic
registered an amazing 80 percent win on it as compared to 73 percent win on first serve by the Slovenian. Besides making a comeback win, Hercog fired four aces and registered three breaks in three sets but she managed to save nine break points. The Serb, on
the other hand, hammered a single ace, broke four times but saved only a single break point. Last but not the least; Jankovic had a higher return point winning percentage of 45 percent as compared to Slovenian’s 37 percent.
Both players are facing each other for the first time and it will be a worthwhile duel to watch since no one knows each other strengths and weaknesses. Jankovic had a higher chance of winning since she is in her top form and hasn’t
lost a single set in this event. She should focus on her wins on first serve and converting all possible opportunities to her advantage will give her an edge, though Hercog can make it a tough battle if she earns more points on her first serves.
"We speak similar languages and I know her really well, but I've never played her," Serbia's Jankovic said of Slovenia's Hercog. "We always talk in the locker room. It's going to be interesting."
The other semi-final match will be between second seeded Russian wild card Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Argentinean Gisela Dulko.
In their head to head, both players met each other once before and the Russian won it in straight sets.
Pavlyuchenkova reached the semis after defeated the Hungarian in straight sets while her opponent destroyed Russian Ksenia Pervak with a bagel.
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