Jelena Jankovic is in the Final of Miami Open after win over Vera Zvonareva in straigth sets, 6:1 6:4. In the evening match that started 8pm local time (ETD, 2am CET) Jelena won against Vera with no problems and made the walk to the Final of the tournament many refer to as the '5th Grand Slam'.
During the match Jelena felt neck/upper back pain as she explains: 'I got a little bit stiff and I had a little bit of pain during the second set, but I think I will be fine. I will get some treatment now, and then tomorrow, loosen up a little bit, and that's it'.
Jelena: 'I've been working on my serve quite a lot, and been working on the getting stronger, especially my shoulder, so it's not surprising that I'm a little bit tightening up, but that's what I have to do in order to get better, in order to get stronger'.
Jelena: 'And I'm really excited to be in the finals here for the first time. I think I played some good tennis tonight, even though it's very difficult to play, you know, at 10:00, 10:00 p.m. and be 100% and move as well as I can do at night, where I felt, you know, sometimes I can be a little bit sleepy out there and a little bit slower than usual'.
Jelena: 'But I tried to and especially being a little bit sick it obviously doesn't help, but I was really focused out there. I tried to hit as much as I can, you know, dictate the points. I served pretty well, especially those last two games. The serve was the main shot that helped me win the match, and I was really happy with that, with that part'.
Jelena: 'But obviously, you know, during the night, the conditions are a lot different, because the balls are fluffier and the points get a lot longer than during the day. Some of the shots you hit would normally be winners, and then at night it's not. You can still get them back. So the rallies are a lot longer. It's tougher work out there. But I managed to do it, and I'm happy to win the match and looking forward to my final against Serena'.
Jelena talked about her first match in the tournament when she was close to exit saving opponent's 5 match points: 'I didn't really expect the tough match from the first round, and that's why maybe I underestimated my opponent'.
Jelena: I thought it won't be such a tough match for me. But I played so badly that, you know, I got into trouble, and that was the big, big problem for me, the issue. But I don't want to think about that. I got through this match. It was a good experience. It was a good thing for my confidence to get through this match in that way, and then now playing with the way I'm playing now, it's really amazing, so I just hope to continue like that, like this'.
Jelena's thoughts on the upcoming match with Serena Williams: 'Last time we played was Melbourne in the quarterfinal, which I won in two sets. It was ‑‑ I don't remember what, 6‑3, 6‑4, something. I remember that I was really playing really well.
Jelena: 'That was my best match at the Australian Open, but I have to really go out there and really play aggressive tennis. It's very important to return well against her, and as well, to serve, to hold serves, because it's very difficult to break her. And just go for my shots and it will be a good fight, hopefully good match'.
Jelena: 'I've played against her many times. I've beaten her many times before, so I know how to play against her and know what to expect from her. But I also know that I really have to play good tennis in order to win, because she's a great champion and a tough opponent to beat'.
Jelena: She's way stronger than me. I cannot compare to her. There's no doubt about that. But I will go out there and try to play my best tennis. It's final of a huge tournament. It's fifth biggest tournament, Sony Ericsson, it's amazing. So I will just try out there my best, and hopefully I can win the title'.
Jelena will now play in the Final against Serena Williams who overcame Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Semifinal in 3 sets, 3:6 7:5 6:3. Jelena and Serena played 5 times against each other and Jelena leads 3-2.
Serena's thoughts on the Final match: 'I don't feel tired or sore or anything at all. I don't feel ‑‑ I feel like I'm really fit. Even right now, I'm not tired. This is one of my favorite tournaments. I love playing here. All my friends come out. I promised tickets for Saturday, so I was, like, I can't lose. I've got to stay in there a little bit longer. It was mainly my motivation'.
Serena: 'I think I've played a great tournament, and I'm just happy to be still in it and doing the best I can do. As long as I'm doing the right thing on the court, I feel like I can come out on top, but I just have to make sure I'm doing what's right'.
Both Jelena and Serena live in Florida and feel at home, though it's Serena that has a house in Palm Beach Gardens so this will be as if she's having a 'home court advantage'. The match is on schedule tomorrow, Sunday April 05.
Jelena makes reaching the Quarterfinals and Semifinals of Tier I events look so easy as if it's 'everyweek's thing' and we hope she will easily won the Title as well.
