? ?
Sports / Tennis
Youngster stays cool to score Beijing upset
By Zhao Rui (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-09-24 10:50
Hungarian teenager Agens Szavay capped off a tremendous week by defeating
second seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in three sets to lift her first
China Open crown yesterday.
The eighth seed launched a scintillating comeback, fighting from 5-2 down
in the second set to win nine consecutive games to take the match 7-6
(8/6), 5-7, 6-2 in Beijing.
With the title, the teenager is set to realize her childhood dream of a
top-20 ranking.
It was the 18-year-old Szavay's second title of the season after winning
in Palermo and becoming her nation's first US Open quarterfinalist last
month.
She entered the final without dropping a set against China's giant killer
Peng Shuai, who beat Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo.
"This one is maybe the most important one for me," said Szavay.
"I was a little bit nervous because I know she is world No 3. ?I just
tried to hit the ball in and I am very happy I played at my level.
"My biggest weapon is my backhand - I think that's the key of my success
tonight."
Coming to Beijing at the last minute after world No 1 Justine Henin
withdrew, Jankovic showed she is anything but a pushover.
The Serb has won Tier I events in Charleston and Rome this season to rise
to a career-high rank of No 3.
She outplayed Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals on Saturday to end one
the year's most compelling comeback stories.
"She is amazing," Jankovic said of the Hungarian.
"I had some chances that I didn't convert, that's a pretty disappointing
thing."
A semifinalist here in Beijing last year, 22-year-old Jankovic took
control at the start of the match and, after exchanging early breaks,
saved two set points to narrowly win the first set with an 8-6 tiebreak.
The Hungarian then seemed to lose patience, smashed the racket and gave
Jankovic an easy 5-2 lead by committing a string of unforced errors.
?? ?? 1?? 2?? ??
?? ?? 1?? 2?? ??
Top Sports News ?
* Brazil break duck with Robinho hat-trick
* China coach tries to save job in Asian Cup
* NFL hopes its game doesn't get lost in translation in China
* Late starters face uphill task in China
* LA Galaxy to present Beckham on July 13
Today's Top News ?
* Confidence in dollar sags after Fed rate cut
* China bows out with head held high
* Yang, Rice meet on bilateral ties
* Iran, US not headed for war
* Fukuda wins Japan leadership race
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese Online Class, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment