Defending champion Alisa Kleybanova was shown the exit in the BMW Malaysian Open by a determined Michaella Krajicek title at Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Singles - Second Round
(2) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Ekaterina Ivanova (RUS) 62 61
Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. (3) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 36 64 63
(4/WC) Jarmila Groth (AUS) d. Misaki Doi (JPN) 76(6) 63
(5) Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Dinara Safina (RUS) 63 46 63
Doubles - Quarterfinals
Lu/Xu (CHN/CHN) d. (2) Brianti/Zhang (ITA/CHN) 64 62
Aoyama/Chan (JPN/TPE) d. Bovina/Bratchikova (RUS/RUS) 57 63 103
The third seeded Kleybanova went down 6-3, 4-6,3-6 to Krajicek in a battle that lasted 130 minutes and kept the crowd at the edge of their feet.
The Russian won the first set 6-3 and was largely favoured to go through as she displayed sheer tenacity, running after everything the Dutch could muster.
But Krajicek found her touch in the second set, as she broke Kleybanova twice to take the second 6-4. And in the third Krajicek pulled away when both the players held their first two serves to move to 5-2, and eventually wrapped up the set and match, winning 6-3.
“I played well in the second and third sets, and I managed to serve well all throughout the match. I am happy with the way I played and I am going to enjoy my win and my run in this tournament as it is not easy to win matches and advance to the quarterfinals. When I take part in a tournament, I focus on one match at a time and so far in this tournament it has worked for me”, said a beaming Krajicek.
And Krajicek will now face qualifier Anne Kremer of Luxembourg in the last eight and looks odds on favourite to make the semis on Saturday.
“I cannot remember how the games went the last time I played Kremer, which was at the 2007 Australian open and the Luxembourg tournament, but I lost against her on both occasions because she was in form at the time, and even now in this tournament, she is in form, as she has made it all the way to the quarterfinals which is an achievement in itself. I will be focused when I take her on in the quarterfinals, and I will try to play as aggressively as I can so that she can’t get into her rhythm of play”, said Krajicek.
Meanwhile former world number one, Dinara Safina gave it her best shot, but that was not good enough to keep her in the singles competition, though she has qualified for the semis of the doubles event.
Safina went down 3-6, 6-4, 3-6 to Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.
But Safarova prevailed in a marathon match that lasted slightly more than two hours to book her place in the quarterfinals against Marion Bartoli of France.
“I started the match well when I took the first set 6 – 3, but in the second set, I lost my concentration and made too many unforced errors which cost me the second set.
“To make things worse for me, Safina served well today and it did not help my cause to win that I was rushing too much during the match.
“In the third set, I hit my ground strokes with as much power as I could, with the purpose of moving her around the court and tiring her out. I also upped my game and played more aggressively so as to not let her play her game and eventually it worked in my favour”, said a relieved and satisfied Safarova.
Safina, who was once the darling of the courts was obviously disappointed with the defeat but preferred to look at the positive outcomes from her performance.
“My opponent played well during crucial moments of the match even though she committed quite a few unforced errors. She had four double faults in the second set which allowed me to regroup and get back into the match, but she hit some good shots in the third set and that made the difference. I am disappointed that I lost today, but this loss will not hinder me in my quest to get back to my best form.”
Where preparation is concerned, Safarova has two persons on who she relies upon to prepare for matches and tournaments, as well as to better and sharpen her game. The duo are, her coach Biljana Veselinovic, and her physical trainer David Vydra.
Safarova, who began playing tennis at the very young age of 3, used to be coached by her very own father, Milan, and she lists her favourite surface as clay, although she is winning matches and advancing in the BMW Malaysian Open 2011 on hard court at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort. Safarova admires tennis legends such as German Steffi Graf, and American Lindsay Davenport.
The BMW Malaysian Open 2011, a leg of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour – The world’s leading professional sport for women is being held from 28th February to 6th March 2011 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort. The tournament has 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams’ competing in a knockout style competition for the prize purse of USD 220,000.00.
Tickets for the tournament can be obtained from TicketPro through their website at www.ticketpro.com.my or by calling +603 7880 7999. For ticket prices and other information log on to the official website of the tournament at www.bmwmalaysianopen.com.
