A matter of days ago she was nearly bundled out of the tournament but she made it through, and ever since she has just gotten better and better. Jelena Jankovic stormed into the final of Indian Wells on Friday with a commanding 62 64 victory over Samantha Stosur.Jankovic, seeded No.6, was two points away from losing her third round match with Sara Errani, but she made it through; since that one she has only gotten better, cruising past Shahar Peer and Alisa Kleybanova in straight sets and in the semifinals beating Stosur handily, breaking her serve four times - none of the No.8 seed's previous four opponents had broken her more than once.
"The key to today's match was my return," Jelena said. "Samantha has an unbelievable serve, one of the best in the women's game, and I was able to return a lot of her first serves. I put a lot of pressure on her second serve, too. I was able to break her quite a few times and it made everything easier for me. I think she felt a little bit uncomfortable, because she really relies on that shot. It's her biggest weapon."
Jankovic will be playing the 23rd Sony Ericsson WTA Tour final of her career, going 11-11 in her first 22. Last year she was 2-1 in finals, winning in Marbella and Cincinnati.
"I'm feeling good and I'm happy to be in the finals. It's my first time in the finals here," Jankovic added. "I have had some tough matches here and some good wins. I'm going to try my best and see what happens. Maybe I can win another title. I'm looking forward to playing my first final of the year on Sunday."
Stosur may have lost but the No.11-ranked Australian will make her Top 10 debut on the new rankings, just the third Australian in the last 25 years to do so, and after a semifinal showing at a Premier tournament, too.
"It has been a great week," Stosur said. "I played four really good matches. Today was a bit disappointing, but it's still my best result in a tournament like this. There's a lot to build on. I have to look at the positives."
In the night session's semi, No.2 seed Caroline Wozniacki beat No.5 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, 62 63.
"I thought I played a really good match," Wozniacki said. "We know each other so well. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses. Agnieszka is a great fighter and doesn't give up."
Jankovic is a perfect 3-0 in her career head-to-head series with Wozniacki.
"I haven't won against Jelena yet. She's a former No.1," Wozniacki said. "She has had a good tournament here and it's going to be a tough match."
Friday, March 19, 2010
Singles - Semifinals
(2) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (5) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 62 63
(6) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (8) Samantha Stosur (AUS) 62 64
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