Stukje van
www.wtatour.comKrajicek played her best tennis of the tournament to win her first set against Bondarenko with whom she has a sort of rivalry since their junior days (the record is 1-1). She served well, and returned strongly, especially with her backhand.
But like in her earlier matches in the tournament, both of which went to three sets, Krajicek again looked like losing the second after winning the first comfortably. Bondarenko, broken twice in the opener, hit a winning streak and opened up a 4-0 lead.
Said Krajicek: "My first set was almost perfect. But then in the second, she played better than I did and in no time I was 0-4 down. Then I said to myself I could play better than that and started refocusing."
Krajicek then won five games in a row and to Bondarenko's credit, she didn't buckle immediately and forced the set into a tie-break. Krajicek had two match points when leading 6-4. "I didn't focus on the first, on her serve," she said. "I was looking at the next and I should have won it, an easy shot on my backhand. But I was nervous and I missed."
She then had to survive three set points before winning on her fifth match point with a forehand to the open court.
"I probably got a bit tired," said a disappointed Bondarenko, said later. "Maybe a bit nervous, too. She (Krajicek) was playing good. It's difficult to play her. She hits hard, goes from line to line. She's tough."