Women’s Singles - Quarterfinals
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Elena Dementieva (RUS)
Jankovic moved on Monday with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Jie Zheng of China in the fourth round. Previously, Jankovic had never been past the third round in Miami, so this is her best showing here. Knowing her like I do though, she is not going to be satisfied with a quarterfinal result. She wants to win it all!
Dementieva looked very good in the fourth round, as she defeated Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-2. Dementieva has had good results in Miami in the past. She reached the quarters in 2002 and 2005, the semis in 2001, and the finals in 2004.
Match-Up:
Jankovic is 3-2 against Dementieva, and has won the last two times they have played. We all know that Jankovic is considered one of the fittest athletes on the WTA Tour. She came to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy as a youngster, and spent five to six years there honing her game. She has very sound groundstrokes that are hit quite flat, an improved serve, and will stay on or near the baseline throughout the match. She is playing with a ton of confidence, and is relentless in running down balls that her opponents think are winners. In fact, she has the ability to turn an offensive shot from her opponent into a offensive shot for herself.
Dementieva is extremely fit as well. Her groundstrokes are hit very flat with little spin and are as good as anyone on tour. She can take the ball early, and can come into the net but doesn’t very often. Her first and second serves have improved, but they can still be picked on. Jankovic must take advantage of Dementieva’s soft second serve because once the point starts, Dementieva is tough to beat. I like Jankovic in this match mainly because of her aggressiveness and her never-give-up mentality during points.
Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2, maybe 3 sets
Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Serena Williams (USA) – Another quarterfinal battle between these two giants of the WTA Tour. They have played 12 times previously with each player winning six of those matches. Henin has won the last three, but Serena did beat her in the finals here last year. Should be a great match today, and I have no idea who is going to win!
Venus Williams (USA) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) – These two have met six times previously, with each player winning three of those matches. They played twice in 2007, and again they split those matches as well. This is a tough one to call, but I am going to have to lean towards Venus.
Vera Zvonareva (RUS) vs. Dinara Safina (RUS) – These two Russians have played seven times previously with Safina winning five of those matches. They have met once in 2008, and Zvonareva won that match in straight sets. Safina knocked out Davenport in the fourth round, and if she plays like that again she can win this match.
And Justine lost…. thought time for the former # 1. It’s terrible to see Justine struggling with her nerves again. I really have the feeling that since the beginning of the season, she plays not to win a match but more to not loose a match. Yes she won Sidney and Antwerp but she did not convince anybody. And recognize herself that she was sort of ashame to have to show to her public in Antwerp such a poor game.
She has nothing to prove anymore. She beated Serena 3 times in 2007 so I really thought that this match in Miami would liberate her and be a new start for this season. But no. She wasn’t agressive, pplayed too short, far too many errors where Serena did exactly what she has to do.
I wonder if Justine’s decision to skip the pacific life open was a good decision. And now, her next tournament is only in one month in Berlin. I think she needs more tournaments right now. To get back in the game. I know her decision is to avoid injuries but the result is no more results….
While it is a tough loss for Justine, you have to remember that Serena can make anyone in the world look lousy on any given day. Serena played fantastic tennis and she looks like she is in great shape as well. Tough to beat her under those circumstances.