Doha: Wozniacki Stunned By Stosur, Wins For Clijsters And Zvonareva
Wozniacki won the first game, but lost the second; still looking for a major trophy
Wozniacki hit her first obstacle in the way to the first major trophy. Fifth seeded at the WTA Championships, Samantha Stosur surprised the Dane, whom she defeated 6-4, 6-3 after the Australian won two break points, one at the end of the first set and another in the fourth game of the second when she was also leading Wozniacki 3-1. The Dane came in Doha as main favorite, having won one match already in the first day. Stosur, who won just one title this season in Charleston in April, played one of her best matches lately. It must be felt good beating the WTA leader.
It was also the second time that she beat a number one. The Australian repeated the same performance earlier this year when she passed Serena Williams. Stosur declared after hitting 26 winners to Wozniacki: “Anytime you beat the No.1 player in the world it’s a good thing. It’s so exciting to be here. Everything seems to be coming together. Hopefully I can keep playing like this.” The Maroon group is now led by the same Australian, who beat Francesca Schiavone in Day 1 6-4, 6-4. Next, Stosur will play Elena Dementieva, the Russian coming after a disappointed loss in front of Wozniacki, who beat her 6-1, 6-1. Concerning the White group, third-seeded Kim Clijsters, winner of the US Open this year, passed Jelena Jankovic in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 and one hour and 14 minutes, after she lost in front of the Serbian last time. The Belgian, who didn’t play since she was raising the US Open trophy over her head this summer, committed 10 double faults which the Serbian didn’t take advantage of, but hit seven aces in order to assure the victory. “I’m happy to win. Now I’ll keep trying to do the good things, learn from the not-so-good things, and just be better for tomorrow,” said Clijsters after the game.
While Stosur is the only Australian layer in the last seven years to beat a number one WTA, Clijsters is the only one among the eight that won in Doha. She did it twice in 2002 and 2003. They day was completed with Vera Zvonareva’s win in front of Victoria Azarenka. It was the second victory for the Russian, who still leads the White group. She also beat Jankovic in the first day. Zvonareva has lost the last two games against Azarenka. Second-seeded at the $4.55 million Doha championship, Vera had to struggle, especially in the first set which the Belarusian pushed into the tiebreak. Coming back from 2-4 in the first set and 1-3 in the second, Zvonareva finished the first set 7-6(4) and the second 6-4 to celebrate her second win in Doha without losing one set.
Azarenka considered herself unlucky in many moments as her tennis went pretty good. But she still has chances to play better and go further the next games. It will pretty tough, though. Eighth seeded in Doha, Azarenka will next play Kim Clijsters who just proved to be in great shape, too. The two will meet on Thursday, while the other meetings see Elena Dementieva facing Samantha Stosur and Caroline Wozniacki playing against Frencesca Schiavone.
