Petra Martic outplays Bojana Jovanovski in the quarter-final round – e-Boks Open 2012
In the only unseeded quarter-final matchup of the e-Boks Open, world number 57, Petra Martic of Croatia, stood victorious against the 20-year-old Serbian tennis sensation, Bojana Jovanovski, on Friday. The 21-year-old Croat fought
for two hours and 18 minutes before settling the three-setter at 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, to march into the semi-final round of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International Tour event in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The gruelling battle took two hours and 18 minutes to conclude, with both players fighting valiantly to remain alive in the competition. These two talented youngsters first met in Dubai 2010, when Jovanovski won the battle 6-7(4),
6-3, 6-1 but Martic had her revenge on Friday and levelled the head-to-head series at 1-1. It was the 11th victory for the Croatian in the running WTA season and a much needed on as well.
Martic drew the first blood in the contest and drove the 20-year-old out of the opener in style. Jovanovski came up with a fitting reply in the very next set and cracked some eye-startling strokes to pocket the set. A more intense
competition was anticipated from the Serbian in the decisive set but Martic gave her limited opportunities to have any impact on the contest. The unseeded Croat manoeuvred her way to victory, halting Jovanovski’s voyage at Copenhagen in dismay.
Martic delivered 65 per cent of her first serve on target, spilling out five double faults and banging in four thudding aces. She clinched 35 out of 60 first serve points and converted nine of her 13 break opportunities in the
match to come out as the winner. On the other hand, Jovanovski closely followed her by pocketing 33 out of 68 points on her first serve and she registered seven out of 16 break points to finish on the losing side in the end.
Martic will be up against the two-time defending champion, world number six, Caroline Wozniacki, in the semi-final matchup. The top seed Dane outshined Alize Cornet of France in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3, in the quarter-finals to
reach 13-0 in Copenhagen. Martic and Wozniacki will compete for a title shot on Saturday evening.
Tags: