Former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic claimed her first title in three years at a small tournament in Bogota, the Copa Claro Colsanitas, cruising past first-time finalist Paula Ormaechea of Argentina 6-1 6-2. But not the whole week was this easy – against Julia Cohen in the first round Jankovic battled for more than three hours, while against Karin Knapp in the semis the third-set tiebreak decided the winner. The other two players the top-seeded Jankovic defeated during the week were Mariana Duque-Marino and Alexandra Cadantu.
This is Jankovic’s 13th career title, while in the three-year drought period she lost five WTA finals.
At the other $235,000 tournament of the week, the US National Indoor Tennis Championships in Memphis, Marina Erakovic became the first New Zealander in 24 years to win a WTA title when third seed Sabine Lisicki retired from the final because of gastrointestinal illness. At the moment Erakovic was leading 6-1 0-0. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
I am personally glad JJ finally managed to grab a title. She did play well down under. We shall see how she plays in the Indian Wells and Miami.
Who was the last Kiwi to win a WTA title before Marina?
Karunya, it was Belinda Cordwell, in Singapore.
Erakovic is sort of the same for New Zealand as Heather Watson is for Britain in terms of ending the title draught. 🙂
Wow I haven’t seen her in a while. To be honest, I almost forgot there’s such a player. I don’t really know why she went so down in tennis, but It’s good she finally won something, no matter how big the tounament was 🙂