Cincinnati tennis 2010: Top seeded Jankovic as well as Clijsters looking to perform well
Kim Clijsters as well as Jelena Jankovic are hoping to showcase their sporting talent this week in Cincinnati as it will help them a great deal in preparing themselves for the upcoming hard court Grand Slam, the United States Open in New York. The US Open will start from the 30th of this month at Flushing Meadows.
Jelena Jankovic, who won the WTA hard court championship last year, is once again seeded as the top ranked player. On the other hand, Kim Clijsters is appearing in this season’s hard court event that started from Monday, seeded fourth.
Jankovic is participating here after her first round exit from the San Diego championship and suffering an ankle injury in Slovenia in July.
"My ankle has recovered now and I am perfectly ok”, said Jankovic, who also had to withdraw from her fourth round clash at Wimbledon, as a result of back pains.
"I have been practising the game of tennis for the last many days and now I am feeling quite healthy and fit at the moment. Therefore, I am really excited to get back in action with my full form”, said Jelena.
The former top ranked tennis ace from the women’s side, Jelena Jankovic received a round number one bye and therefore is slated to face qualifier, Vera Dushevina in her opening match of the second round of the tournament.
In the first round match, Dushevina successfully managed to defeat Anastasia Rodionova in straight sets. The final match score was 6-2, 7-6 (9/7).
In another match, Jankovic's compatriot, Ana Ivanovic defeatedVictoria Azarenka, the ninth seeded player in a three setter first round clash. The final match score was 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2. Although, down in the first set, Ana did well to grab the second one .That gave her confidence and she finished off the third set along with the match as a winner in the end.
On the other hand, last year’s United States Open winner Kim Clijsters also received a bye in round number one of the championship. The Belgian tennis ace is scheduled to face the thirty-fifth ranked women’s tennis player, Dinara Safina in the second round of the hard court competition.
Safina, who knocked down Kim Clijsters in straight sets here back in 2009, won her first round match against Roberta Vinci in a total of two sets. The final match score was 7-5, 6-4.
As far as Kim is concerned, she has not participated in any competition since her quarterfinal defeat at the All England Club this year. However, she has contested in World Team Tennis as well as doubles.
"It's been over a month now”, she commented. I am really excited to play match here. However, it doesn’t matter who I face”, Kim added.
As far as some other matches of the round number one are concerned, Bojana Jovanovski, a qualifier did pretty well to upset the fourteen seeded tennis player, Aravane Rezai in a three setter clash. The final match score was 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The first round defeat was the second straight defeat for Aravane, who was also kicked out in the first round at San Diego, over the recent past.
On the other hand, Amanmuradova thrashed Kimiko Date Krumm in the qualifiers. The final match score was 6-1, 6-2.
Sara Errani in her match also defeated Jamie Hampton 6-4, 6-2.
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