Latest from Båstad – Sweden

Written by: Global Chick on 9th July 2011

Latest from Båstad – Sweden

Sweden's Ervin Eleskovic is taken away from the court after suffering an injury during the match between Eleskovic and Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic in the Davis Cup quarter finals in Halmstad, Sweden, 08 July 2011. EPA/MAJA SUSLIN SWEDEN OUT |

Swede Ervin Eleskovic was given a wildcard to the main draw of the men’s SkiStar Swedish Open tournament on Friday. Eleskovic, who played against Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic in his Davis Cup debut on Friday, injured himself in the second set.

Eleskovic’s injury was very serious and he was helped off the court with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. This sort of injury requires up to six months of rehabilitation.

Ervin Eleskovic’s wildcard will now be given to veteran player and crowd favourite Andreas Vinciguerra. “Vince”, who loves coming to play in Båstad played a great match against Robin Soderling last year but lost in three sets.

Johanna Larsson of Sweden is in the final of the WTA Collector Swedish Open tournament. The 22-year-old took out fellow countrywoman Sofia Arvidsson in two easy sets 6-3 6-1. Arvidsson and Larsson are best friends off the court. Larsson said, “We know each other really well off the court and on the court, but you have to focus on what you’re doing and put everything else aside.”

Larsson will play Slovenia’s Polona Hercog who overcame Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in three sets to reach the final.

Hercog said, “She’s a really good player, a very good fighter. Of course the crowd will be on her side, but I’m ready for that – maybe when they clap I’ll pretend they are clapping for me.”

Both girls are contesting their second WTA final.

Global Chick

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Results – Saturday, July 9, 2011
Singles – Final
(8) Polona Hercog (SLO) d. Johanna Larsson (SWE) 64 75

Doubles – Final
Domínguez Lino/Martínez Sánchez (ESP/ESP) d. (3) Llagostera Vives/Parra Santonja (ESP/ESP) 63 63

Final Facts
- Hercog wins her first WTA singles title; the 20-year-old is now 1-1 in tour finals, having been runner-up to Venus Williams at Acapulco in 2010. She is the first Slovenian titlist since Katarina Srebotnik won at Stockholm in 2005.
– Larsson, 22, was also bidding for her first title from her second final; she was runner-up to Anna Chakvetadze at Portoroz in 2010.
– Hercog and Larsson had met in the first round at Wimbledon less than three weeks ago, with Hercog prevailing in three sets.

– In the semifinals at Bastad, Swedish No.1 Larsson beat the country’s No.2, Sofia Arvidsson in the first all-Swedish WTA semi. Today Larsson was bidding to become the first Swede since Arvidsson to win a tour title (2006 Memphis).
– Lourdes Domínguez Lino and María José Martínez Sánchez win their first doubles title together. Dominguez Lino now has four WTA doubles titles to her name while Martínez Sánchez has 15.

Final Quotes
Polona Hercog, 2011 Collector Swedish Open singles champion:
“I’m very, very happy to be through this final and have a title in my pocket. Johanna was amazing on court – she was fighting until the last point. She had the crowd with her as well, but that’s the way it is when you are playing a home player… I was really ready for this and tried to focus on me and my game. I never spoke about it, but I had a funny feeling all week that I could win the tournament. To do it is an amazing feeling.”