|
ZURICH, Switzerland -- Amelie Mauresmo was upset by Alona
Bondarenko 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the Zurich Open on
Wednesday. Mauresmo dominated early, taking a 3-1 lead in the first set,
but last year's Australian Open and Wimbledon champion fell apart
after being broken at 4-4 in the second. The former top-ranked Frenchwoman, who has struggled since an
appendectomy in March, was broken twice in the third set. "This was my best tennis in a long time," Mauresmo said. "But
physically I'm not at my top and it's a question of confidence,
too. "I have to gain confidence by winning matches like this one but
it didn't happen. And physically I'm just not at the level I've
been the last several years." Bondarenko, who has won only one WTA Tour title, said she was
nervous in the first set. "But I concentrated on my game instead of the fact I was
playing Amelie Mauresmo," the Ukrainian said. Mauresmo is looking forward to some rest. "It's been a tough season for me," Mauresmo said. "Now it's
behind me. I'll take a little break before getting back to work
because that's what I need." The 18-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova defeated third-seeded
Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-4. Having played 93 matches this season, Jankovic has recently
complained of fatigue. Last week, she retired with heat exhaustion
from the first round of the Bangkok Open. "I'm just tired. I need some rest," Jankovic said. Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli also advanced to the
quarterfinals, beating Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands 6-4,
6-1, and Tatiana Golovin of France upset fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic
of Serbia 6-3, 6-1. Francesca Schiavone won her first-round match
after Elena Dementieva retired with left thigh injury while
trailing 4-6, 6-1, 4-2. It marked only the second time in eight matches that Golovin
defeated Ivanovic. "After that many losses you think, 'OK, I've got to change
something," Golovin said. "So I was patient. She doesn't like
long exchanges. And I mixed up my serve and returned well. That
destabilized her and she started making mistakes." In the opening set, Golovin swept the first three games, lost
the next three, then won the last three. In the second, Golovin won five straight games and closed it out
when Ivanovic committed her sixth double fault. "I definitely considered myself a favorite to reach the
semifinals, the final and even to win," Ivanovic said. "I was
looking ahead instead of focusing on each game, each point. It was
a tough lesson for me today." Dementieva's withdrawal ended any chance the Russian had of
qualifying for the season-ending WTA Championship in Madrid, Spain. "Obviously I'm very disappointed about the result of the match
and disappointed also that I couldn't have made it to Madrid,"
Dementieva said. Justine Henin, Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ivanovic and
Serena Williams have qualified for the WTA tournament on Nov. 6-11.
Five other players are still eligible for the remaining three
spots.
|
