Elena Vesnina upsets Jelena Jankovic to enter the second round – New Haven Open 2011
Russian tennis pro stunned the former world number one Jelena Jankovic on Tuesday 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to book her place in the second round of 2011 WTA New Haven Open here in New Haven, United States.
Unseeded at the Women’s Tennis Association tournament, Vesnina made a solid start to her opening match. Although she lost the track a bit in the second, she was able to regroup herself in the final set to seal a memorable victory.
Looking for a place in the second round of the tournament, Vesnina started off very confidently. Breaking the serve early in the opening set, she took a crucial 2-0 lead early on in the match. Looking up at the crowd at Connecticut
Tennis Centre, she looked a bit confused. However she continued to play her game.
“It was just a strange feeling,” Vesnina said. “I don’t know how to describe it.”
An earthquake of 5.9 magnitude had hit the city with the centre of origin at northwest of Richmond Va.
“I don’t want to complain,” Jankovic said. “The most important thing is to be safe. I’m glad it wasn’t something really serious and that we’re all safe and we’re OK, except that I lost the match, which is something that’s such
a small thing compared to other people losing lives in some kind of cases around the world.”
When the match restarted after a 2 hour break, Vesnina came out blazing away. Holding on to her game score advantage, she pocketed the opener to take the set score lead 1-0.
Fighting back, Jankovic put up a better show in the following set. Breaking the serve twice in the set, she raced to an impassable 5-2 lead. Holding on to her next service game, the Serbian managed to force the match into a decider.
Both players put up a great fight in the final set. After several serve breaks were exchanged, the match entered a very exciting phase. Vesnina showed great determination and fighting spirit to overcome her opponent in match that
lasted for 4 hours and 16 minutes.
Vesnina served with control and she achieved an impressive 72 per cent first serve conversion. Jankovic, on other hand, committed too many unforced errors including seven double faults.
Vesnina now moves on ahead to Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues. Garrigues moved ahead into the second round after doing away with Russian qualifier Ksenia Pervak in the first round.
Tags: