Jankovic, Venus get lucky for Doha semi-final spots
By DPA, IANSSaturday, October 31, 2009
DOHA - Jelena Jankovic and Venus Williams entered the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Championships with the luck of the draw on their side.
Jankovic, last year’s number one and now standing eighth, found fortune as fitness failed Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki in a 6-2, 6-2 group defeat.
Holder Williams came through, thanks to a victory by Svetlana Kuznetsova over fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2 which sealed the place for the American, a loser in two of three group matches.
Wozniacki, the world number four, paid the price after playing a pair of marathons that came close to a massive six hours on court this week.
A refreshed Jankovic then dominated the proceedings in 68 minutes. Wozniacki lost serve five times and couldn’t even manage an ace in the rout.
Serb Jankovic joined Serena Williams in reaching the final four of the eight-women season-ending event in which substitute Vera Zvonarava, with an ankle injury, was herself substituted by Agnieszka Radwanska.
Wozniacki, 19, and the brightest new face in the world elite, was unable to muster any reserves in the loss.
The US Open finalist’s fate was in the hands of the last match, where Radwanska beat Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 4-1, retired.
Jankovic was hammered in her first match by Azarenka, but copped a break in her second when Russia’s number one contender Dinara Safina had to quit with back pains after just two games and 12 minutes.
That decision also handed Serena Williams the year-end number one ranking.
“I didn’t know what to expect from her (Wozniacki). I saw what happened to her yesterday (cramping) but I just concentrated on trying to win the match and get through to the semi-finals,” said Jankovic.
“I just tried to dictate and keep her in long rallies.”
