Saturday, October 4, 2008

Wozniak falls in semis at Japan Open

Wozniak falls in semis at Japan Open


THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOKYO -- Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak lost her semifinal match in straight sets at the Japan Open on Saturday, while American Andy Roddick was upset by Tomas Berdych.

Wozniak, from Blainville, Que., saved a match point before falling 6-4, 6-4 to fifth seed Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.

"It was a close match all the way through," said Wozniak. "Maybe if I'd not lost serve in the first game, it might have gone differently."

Wozniak, ranked 38th, looked like she might stage a comeback when she broke Kanepi early in the second set. But the 33rd-ranked Estonian broke Wozniak right back and again in the ninth game en route to the win.

She also lost to Kanepi in 2007 during the Sydney qualifying rounds.

"She's a powerful girl and hit her shots well," said Wozniak. "I missed on a few key points and she pressed her advantage."

Roddick fell 6-7 (3), 7-5, 7-6 (3) in his semifinal, ending his bid for a second straight title in Asia.

The ninth-seeded Berdych will face fifth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in Sunday's final. Del Potro defeated No. 4 Richard Gasquet 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the other semifinal.

Roddick, coming off a win at the China Open last Sunday, broke Berdych to take a 2-0 lead in the final set and looked set for another trip to the finals after building a 5-2 lead.

"It's disappointing," Roddick said. "I don't know how to rate it. You feel like you have a match in your grasp and then let it go."

.After holding serve in the eighth game, Berdych broke Roddick with a crosscourt forehand to close the gap to 5-4 before sending the final set into a tiebreaker, which the Czech won with an ace.

"Being down 5-2 doesn't look good," Berdych said. "But it was only one break. I just tried to stay on my serve and look for a break and finally it came and I could finish the set."

Roddick also had a chance to win in the second set. With the score tied 5-5, Roddick double- faulted to give Berdych a 6-5 lead. He slammed his racket on the court and was given a warning.

Roddick, who had 25 aces, said Berdych made the most of his chances.

"He hit some good shots," Roddick said. "I don't think I missed any easy shots. He played a good game and this surface suits his game because he hits the ball hard and flat."

Berdych, 23, is chasing his first singles title this year and fifth of his career.

Earlier, Del Potro extended his extraordinary run by beating Gasquet in three sets.

The 20-year-old Del Potro has won 29 of his 30 matches, with the only loss being to eventual finalist Andy Murray in the U.S. Open quarter-finals.

During that streak, he has won titles at Stuttgart, Kitzbuhel, Los Angeles and Washington.

.In other women's action, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark coasted to a 6-4, 6-3 win over Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia to reach the final.

.She will take on Kanepi. Wozniacki is chasing her third singles title in as many months.

Wozniak will now return home following a month in Asia where she saved her best showing for last. Her final event of the season will be in Quebec in three weeks.

"I really want to prepare well for next season. To do well, you have to play with high intensity every day. That's what I want to work on."





  • Wozniak advances to Japan Open semis
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