Kaia Kanepi dumps Ayumi Morita to reach the semi-final draw – Portugal Open 2013
Defending champion, Kaia Kanepi, moved a step closer to the title match of Portugal Open by thumping the Japanese tennis ace, Ayumi Morita, in the quarter-final round. The Thursday’s encounter was the first one between these two
contestants and the Estonian number one didn’t faced much difficulty in settle the dispute in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. She took one hour and 34 minutes before confirming a place in the round of four at this clay court event in Oeiras, Portugal.
Kanepi hasn’t played much this season so far due to her niggling injuries but her title defence at Portugal Open has been phenomenal. She didn’t lose a single set throughout her voyage to the semis, defeating all her rivals in
straight sets comprehensively. She had an early stumble against Morita but recovered extremely well to turn the table on the 23-year-old Japanese.
"I was pretty happy with the way I played today," Kanepi said. "It was windy but I stayed aggressive and served well - I felt very comfortable serving. And I liked my movement, too. My Achilles injury isn't really affecting my
movement - it doesn't bother me in practice or matches, maybe just after some matches, but then I ice it a lot. It's already better than it was last week in Morocco, actually. I think my movement is actually better than before the injury. Today was a good
win."
Kanepi had an early shocker when Morita broker her serve in the very first game of the match. The Japanese built up a 3-1 lead against the defending champion but Kanepi broke her way back in the sixth game and levelled the score
at 3-3. Morita could hold merely one more serve game before suffer another crucial blow from the Estonian veteran. Kanepi sealed the opener at 6-4.
The following set took off steadily but three back-to-back break points later one. Kanepi was the one to strike first but only to be broken in the very next game to fall back at 4-3. However, the hot favourite Estonian stung another
break point in the eighth game and then served out of the match at 5-3 convincingly.
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