Sofia Arvidsson downs Jelena Jankovic to move into quarters at Brussels Ladies Open
Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson beat fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of the Brussels Ladies Open on Wednesday. The Swede pro showed no signs of slowing down and rallied from a set down to defeat
the Serbian to reach the quarterfinal of the tournament for the first time in her career.
Jankovic was left bewildered after her shocking defeat in the second round of the tournament. It was the latest disappointment on the clay for the world number ten, who remained unable to progress beyond the second round of three
of four tournaments she has participated. Last week, she progressed into the quarterfinal of the Mutua Madrid Open for her most prominent clay court result this year.
Jankovic played exceptionally well in the first set and completely outplayed her Swede opponent in every segment of the game. However, she began to show signs of fatigue at the start of the second set and Arvidsson took full advantage.
She stepped up her attack at the start of the second and third set, seizing on his opponent’s mistakes and racing towards big leads.
Jankovic started off the match on a very positive note. She immediately grabbed a 3-0 lead with a help of a devastating forehand flick that Arvidsson could barely cope with. The moment crowd at court held its breath as Swede’s
serve suffered an attack of the hiccups. However, he quickly bounced back on a long volley to close the gap to 3-3, using her right-hand to devastating effect.
For some time it looked to spectators as though the 27-year-old would win the set and come in striking distance of her 26-year-old opponent. However, Jankovic defended very tenaciously won three consecutive games to take an early
advantage 6-3. Jankovic won the first set with 63 percent on her service, 50 percent on return and 55 percent of points in total.
However, the success was short-lived for the Serbian, who apart from a decent showing in the first set, she never broke back. Jankovic did lead 3-0 in the second set but she was overwhelmed in the end by the Swede, who displayed
her full array of shots in a very impressive win. Apart from a blip in the first set, the Swede served extremely well and by the end of the she was in total control of the rallies.
Arvidsson wrapped the match with 60 percent on her service, 42 percent on return and 52 percent of points in total. She posted impressive figures in the next two sets before entering the quarterfinal of the Brussels Open for the
first time in her career.
A struggling Arvidsson looks to continue her good form in Brussels, as she takes to the court against Peng Shuai of China at the quarterfinal match on Wednesday. Arvidsson and Peng have already faced each other on the courts of
Zurich, where the Swede pro got the better of Chinese to hold a 1-0 lead.
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