Caroline Wozniacki and Vera Zvonareva, two of the hottest players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour this year, moved into the final of the China Open with straight sets wins on Saturday afternoon.
Zvonareva, the No.2 seed, was the first of the pair to advance to the title match, beating No.9 seed Li Na, 63 63, her fourth win in their seven career encounters.
"Li Na is a great player and she's playing at home. I was trying to do my best on the court and not pay attention to anything else," Zvonareva said. "She was taking a lot of risks today and she had some unforced errors, so I knew I had to just hang in there and try to counterpunch, get every single ball and fight."
Wozniacki, the No.1 seed, toughed out a tight first set then rolled over No.15 seed Shahar Peer in the second semi, 75 62. Wozniacki was up 5-2 in the first set and missed six set points as Peer evened it up at 5-5, but the Dane lost one point in the last two games to take a one set lead. Peer won the first two games of the second set but Wozniacki won six in a row for the win.
"I'm really happy to be in the finals. I've never been in the final in singles here before," said Wozniacki, a doubles champion here in Beijing two years ago with Anabel Medina Garrigues. "Vera's a good player, I'm a good player. It's going to be a difficult match, and we'll see what happens."
Zvonareva leads Wozniacki in their head-to-head, 3-2. In their last meeting, Zvonareva beat Wozniacki in the semifinals of the US Open last month, 64 63.
"It's always a challenge to play Caroline, but I like challenges," Zvonareva said. "US Open was in the past. Tomorrow is going to be a new day."
Zvonareva, the No.2 seed, was the first of the pair to advance to the title match, beating No.9 seed Li Na, 63 63, her fourth win in their seven career encounters.
"Li Na is a great player and she's playing at home. I was trying to do my best on the court and not pay attention to anything else," Zvonareva said. "She was taking a lot of risks today and she had some unforced errors, so I knew I had to just hang in there and try to counterpunch, get every single ball and fight."
Wozniacki, the No.1 seed, toughed out a tight first set then rolled over No.15 seed Shahar Peer in the second semi, 75 62. Wozniacki was up 5-2 in the first set and missed six set points as Peer evened it up at 5-5, but the Dane lost one point in the last two games to take a one set lead. Peer won the first two games of the second set but Wozniacki won six in a row for the win.
"I'm really happy to be in the finals. I've never been in the final in singles here before," said Wozniacki, a doubles champion here in Beijing two years ago with Anabel Medina Garrigues. "Vera's a good player, I'm a good player. It's going to be a difficult match, and we'll see what happens."
Zvonareva leads Wozniacki in their head-to-head, 3-2. In their last meeting, Zvonareva beat Wozniacki in the semifinals of the US Open last month, 64 63.
"It's always a challenge to play Caroline, but I like challenges," Zvonareva said. "US Open was in the past. Tomorrow is going to be a new day."
5 comments:
I hope you kicked butt in your finals "Captain".
I find it interesting here in the U.S. classes begin (depending on the school) around the last couple of weeks of August to the first couple of weeks of September. That is from kindergarten to university level. While you are finishing they are starting here.
A debacle of a week: a)The Princess was down by the Fist Pumping Imbecile b)The Big Bunny became number one in the rankings c) The final was rained out. On a good note The Big Bunny won over The "F.P.I."
From what I've seen The Big Stuffed Bunny has problems closing out matches (Azarenka)and sets (Peer). The pressure is getting to her.
Thanks Carlos, it means alot :D
Well our finals are acctually in about 4 weeks time, but I did mine early because I will be away, when they are meant to be! Don't worry I will still be blogging!
Yes it was a shocker, IMO the worst was bunny becoming 1. Now this is my view, but defending a title, particulay a grand slam, is a huge thing! And if you do happen to defend a grand slam title, like Serena and Kim did this year, you definatly deserve a bonus of points, I mean it takes huge mental and physical strength to defend a title a grand slam level.
Yes the pressure was getting to her, before it was even there, it will be intresting to see how she goes at YEC's considering she hasnt beaten a top 5 payer in along long time!
I have to make a correction Captain. The Princess went down to a fellow Russian again, Vera Z. The "F.P.I" took down "Sponge Bart". Sorry about the mistakes.
Captain I agree with you 100% in your comment about repeating a grand slam title. Rivals are gunning for the champion looking to dethrone them, the pressure, and mental wear. Something The Bunny knows nothing about.
I forgot in my native country classes begin mid January and ends mid November. Of course they get holiday vacations. Is it the same in Australia?
It must be pretty big plans that you have in store Captain.
Yes, I did pick up on that was what you meant, don't worry :)
Exactly, and Im glad some one agrees with me! Its an extraudinary thing to be able too, Not many players are able to cope with the pressure, Wozniacki has proven she can do it on a small time tournament like New Haven, but has not yet proven she can cope with the pressures of grand slam situations!
Yeah that's the same as ours, for ELC (kindergarten - 12) but at university most clases go from March untill October/November (depending on what course)
Oh they are, all will be reveald in due time!
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