21 Feb 2007
Dubai: Fifth-seeded and former finalist Jelena Jankovic and eighth seed Daniela Hantuchova eased into the second round while qualifier Tamira Paszek created the biggest flutter by dumping Dubai-based Katarina Srebotnik on the second day of the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open.
Jankovic, a losing finalist here two years ago, brushed aside Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai 6-1, 6-2, while Hantuchova took stock early to dispose off Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3.
"The key lay in me controlling the points early during the match so that she did not have a chance to get back into her rhythm," Jankovic said.
"I hope to do well here. I am feeling confident and I am sure I am capable of beating any of these top players in these types of tournaments. It is merely a question of staying focused," Jankovic stated.
Before coming to Dubai, Jankovic took two weeks off the hectic life of the tour and spent time relaxing. "I was finding it too difficult to cope with the travelling and playing. I needed the rest, so I went home and spent some time relaxing. I am feeling at ease and all willing to give it my best shot here," Jankovic promised.
Clearly better
Meanwhile, Hantuchova had things going her way as she brushed past Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3 to run into a second Russian - Maria Kirilenko - in as many days.
Hantuchova was clearly the better player, adjusting well to the centre court conditions and taking the first set quite easily 6-1 in under 25 minutes with breaks in the fourth and sixth games.
In the second, Vesnina - considered one of the bright faces on the WTA Tour - did stage a fightback as she broke the Slovakian in the third to go 2-1 clear.
However, she could not keep a tab on her concentration or her unforced errors as Hantuchova breezed through 6-3.
"I'm quite happy with the way I played. I was good in the first set and I think I had the edge because I came here early to adjust to the courts," she said.
"She is a tough player, but if I play the way I did today, I should be through to the next round," Hantuchova said about Kirilenko. The biggest upset of the day came on one of the side courts when Dubai-based Slovenian Srebotnik, ranked No 23 in the world, crashed to qualifier Paszek 7-5, 6-3.
In other first-round encounters, Anabel Medina Garrigues sent qualifier Anne Kremer packing 6-3, 6-4, while Meghann Shaughnessy beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi 6-3, 6-4. Vera Dushevina also advanced as her Russian opponent Elena Likhovtseva retired following a viral illness after losing the first set 6-2.
Results
Singles: Daniela Hantuchova beat Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3; Tamira Paszek beat Katarina Srebotnik 7-5, 6-3; Vera Dushevina beat Elena Likhovtseva 6-2 (retd.); Anabel Medina Garrigues beat Anne Kremer 6-3, 6-4; Meghann Shaughnessy beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi 6-3, 6-4; Jelena Jankovic beat Aravane Rezai 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles: Janette Husarova/Kveta Peschke beat Martina Hingis/Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-4; Francesca Schiavone/Katarina Srebotnik beat Eleni Daniilidou/Jasmin Woehr 6-3, 6-3; Svetlana Kuznetsova/Alicia Molik beat Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Meghann Shaughnessy 6-2, 6-4; Daniela Hantuchova/Ai Sugiyama beat Jelena Kostanic Tosic/Tatiana Perebiynis 6-4, 6-1.
Today's Order of Play:
Centre Court: (Start at 2pm) Daniela Hantuchova vs Maria Kirilenko; Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Meghann Shaughnessy; Vera Dushevina vs Amelie Mauresmo; (7pm) Justine Henin vs Tamira Paszek; Martina Hingis vs Anabel Medina Garrigues.
Court No.1: (Start at 2pm) Ai Sugiyama vs Eleni Daniilidou; Jelena Jankovic/Aravane Rezai vs Mara Santangelo/Martina Muller; (4.30pm) Andreea Ehritt-Vanc/Anastasia Rodio
Court No.3: (Start at 2pm) Alicia Molik vs Patty Schnyder; (4.30pm) Cara Black/Liezel Huber vs Jelena Jankovic/Li Na; Kateryna Bondarenko/Vera Dushevina vs Svetlana Kuznetsova/Alicia Molik.
By Alaric Gomes
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
