Friday, October 2, 2009

Jankovic and Sharapova to meet in Tokyo final

Jelena Jankovic had problems with her arm in the second set of her Toray Pan Pacific Open semifinal match against Li Na. Li had problems of her own, though, repeatedly setting up winning shots--mostly of a cross-court variety--and then failing to execute them. She missed so many of these that it was eventually surprising when she made one. Jankovic won the match 6-4, 6-3, and will play Maria Sharapova in the final.

Sharapova, who played Agnieszka Radwanska, won the match 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. There were 17 breaks of serve in this match, which had quite a few momemtum swings. Some time ago, Sharapova said that she intended to return to her full service motion; her coach, however, said that she would continue to use the abbreviated motion. Sharapova got her way: In Tokyo, she has employed a service motion similar to the pre-injury one that had served her so well for so long. In this match, she hit only one ace, but she also limited her double faults to six.

Sharapova has won the Toray Pan Pacific Open three times.

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