Francesca Schiavone hits back at Jelena Jankovic to reach the last four – Brisbane WTA 2012
Third seed, Francesca Schiavone, bounced past the sixth seeded Serb, Jelena Jankovic, in a three setter mouth watering match at the Brisbane International 2012 on Thursday. She penned down a 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over the 26-year-old
Serb to advance into the semi-finals at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier event taking place in the first week of January in Brisbane, Australia.
Reaching her career best rank at number four last year, Schiavone finished with 108 points as compared to the Serb’s 106, sealing the deal in almost three hours on their seventh battle against each other. She not only reduced the
trail by 3-4 against Jankovic but also took one step closer to her fifth career title.
The Belgrade native, Jankovic, made a convincing start at the opening set and drew the first blood in the second game, eventually going 3-0 up. She lost her remaining two serves but recovered in the eighth games, levelling the
scores at 4-4. Later she held her serve games and converted another break opportunity to her advantage in the last game, clinching the opener by winning seven games to five.
The 31-year-old Italian remained off-course in the second set and after losing her serve in the fourth game, she subsequently went 4-1 down. However, she recovered in the seventh game and after exchanging another break, Schiavone
dragged the set to a tie-breaker. The veteran prevailed 7-6 (2) to seal the equaliser, forcing her way right back in business.
Italian number one lost her concentration again in the final set but after going 3-1 down, she bombarded powerful forehands and backhands to reel off next five games in a row. She saved two out of three breakpoints she faced and
capitalised on two out of three break chances.
"Even though I was down, I had much, much more energy left," Schiavone said afterwards. "Maybe my energy went a little bit down after I lost the first set, but then I saw her and she was a little bit tired, too, so I knew I had
to push her hard and keep going. Then I caught her and played a really good tie-break."
Confronting the seeded Italian is the Estonian Kaia Kanepi who shocked the second seeded German, Andrea Petkovic, with a breadstick to set-up this clash.
"I feel good. I can play long matches," the Italian said. "Here I'm playing again tomorrow, which will be tough, but at Grand Slams you have one day to recover, so it's easier.."
Schiavone was the runner-up at the French Open last year (lost to Chinese Li Na in the title-round) and made semi-final berths at the Brussels and New Haven WTA Premier events.
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