Krajicek Rolls, Americans Ousted at WTA Hobart
Posted on January 11, 2006It was a disappointing day for the American contingent in Hobart, while Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek kept on rolling, as rained-out second round matches and all four quarterfinals were completed on Wednesday at the Moorilla Hobart International, a $145,000 Tier IV Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event leading up to next week's Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam.
After being postponed from Tuesday due to rain, the final two second round matches were completed, with No.4 seed Amy Frazier finishing off a 76(3) 63 victory over Puerto Rico's Kristina Brandi and the Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko taking out Australian wild card Casey Dellacqua 76(2) 64.
It was not a good day for Frazier and her fellow Americans in the quarterfinals however, as they went 0-3 in final eight match-ups. Frazier was downed 76(3) 76(4) in a late match by No.5 seed Iveta Benesova; two-time NCAA champion Laura Granville was outlasted 57 64 64 by Croatia's Jelena Kostanic; and No.8 seed Jill Craybas fell 76(3) 63 to Italy's Mara Santangelo.
"I played aggressive and tried to stay focussed every single point," said Santangelo, who reached her career-first Tour singles semifinal with the win. "I had some problems with my serve in the first set but after that it was okay. I'm so happy. I hope to be fresh tomorrow."
In the remaining quarterfinal, 17-year-old rising star Michaella Krajicek of The Netherlands posted a quick 62 63 victory in just over an hour against Bondarenko. The pair were neck-and-neck early in both sets, but the Dutch teenager won the last four games of the first and the last three of the second to move into her third career Tour singles semifinal.
"Today was a good match and I'm really happy with the way I played so hopefully I can do well tomorrow," Krajicek said. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I have a tough opponent. I was watching her, she's left handed so it's going to be a different match."
In Thursday's semifinals, Benesova will face Santangelo while Krajicek will face Kostanic. The first pair has squared off once perviously, with Santangelo posting an easy 61 61 victory at an ITF Women's Circuit event in Italy in 2002. The latter pairing has never done battle before. (WTA)
After being postponed from Tuesday due to rain, the final two second round matches were completed, with No.4 seed Amy Frazier finishing off a 76(3) 63 victory over Puerto Rico's Kristina Brandi and the Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko taking out Australian wild card Casey Dellacqua 76(2) 64.
It was not a good day for Frazier and her fellow Americans in the quarterfinals however, as they went 0-3 in final eight match-ups. Frazier was downed 76(3) 76(4) in a late match by No.5 seed Iveta Benesova; two-time NCAA champion Laura Granville was outlasted 57 64 64 by Croatia's Jelena Kostanic; and No.8 seed Jill Craybas fell 76(3) 63 to Italy's Mara Santangelo.
"I played aggressive and tried to stay focussed every single point," said Santangelo, who reached her career-first Tour singles semifinal with the win. "I had some problems with my serve in the first set but after that it was okay. I'm so happy. I hope to be fresh tomorrow."
In the remaining quarterfinal, 17-year-old rising star Michaella Krajicek of The Netherlands posted a quick 62 63 victory in just over an hour against Bondarenko. The pair were neck-and-neck early in both sets, but the Dutch teenager won the last four games of the first and the last three of the second to move into her third career Tour singles semifinal.
"Today was a good match and I'm really happy with the way I played so hopefully I can do well tomorrow," Krajicek said. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I have a tough opponent. I was watching her, she's left handed so it's going to be a different match."
In Thursday's semifinals, Benesova will face Santangelo while Krajicek will face Kostanic. The first pair has squared off once perviously, with Santangelo posting an easy 61 61 victory at an ITF Women's Circuit event in Italy in 2002. The latter pairing has never done battle before. (WTA)