Women Tennis Update – Memphis, and Bogota Monday, February 25, 2013

Written by: Staff on 24th February 2013

Women Tennis Update - Memphis, and Bogota Monday, February 25, 2013

epa03597777 Sabine Lisicki of Germany hits a return shot to Marina Erakovic of New Zealand during their finals match in the US National Indoor Tennis Championships at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA 23 February 2013. Erakovic took the championship when Lisicki retired in the second set due to illness. EPA/TANNEN MAURY |

Memphis

Singles – Final: Marina Erakovic def. (3) Sabine Lisicki 6-1, retired

This seems so sadly typical: Just when Sabine Lisicki is getting things really working, her body fails her. She earned enough points to reach #37, but this should have been her title to win.

After two previous finals, including one here last year, Marina Erakovic at last earns her first trophy. For New Zealand, a nation with not many world-class athletes, it’s big news, even if the final wasn’t much. For Erakovic, because she was defending so much… it’s only a small help. It appears she will be just below #60. Not a big move. But it fills a big hole in her trophy cabinet.

Doubles – Final: (2) Mladenovic/Voskoboeva def. Arvidsson/Larsson 7-6(7-5) 6-3

Good to see some life for Galina Voskoboeva, who has fallen badly in singles and slightly in doubles. It’s her first title since Brussels 2011, and her first at an indoor event. Kristina Mladenovic hasn’t been waiting so long; this gives her three titles in the last twelve months. But it is her first of 2013.

Bogota

Singles – Final: (1) Jelena Jankovic def. Paula Ormaechea 6-1 6-2

Jelena Jankovic had really struggled in some of her earlier matches here. But — those weren’t finals. In this match, she had the advantage of experience — and it showed.

It is the first title for Jankovic since Indian Wells 2010. Three years! No wonder she has fallen out of the Top Twenty. This won’t quite get her back, but she is close. Too bad she has points to defend next week. But after that… nothing. She lost her openers at Indian Wells, Miami, and Charleston. If she can keep up any momentum at all, she has a good shot at making it back to the Top Fifteen.

Three of Jankovic’s first four titles, and both of her first two premier titles, were on clay. She says she likes faster surfaces, but maybe getting back to the dirt did her some good.

Paula Ormaechea of course did not win her first title, but she doubled her career win total here. At the very least, she has something to remember — as well as a big rankings move.

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Bogota, Jelena Jankovic, Marina Erakovic, Memphis, Sabine Lisicki, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, women tennis news