Venus gives Americas lead
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AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 10, 2009 00:00
HONG KONG - Venus Williams gave the Americas an early lead in the final of Hong Kong's World Team Challenge Friday, beating Russia's Anna Chakvetadze in straight sets.
Williams failed to match the intensity of her play Thursday against world number one Jelena Jankovic early in the match but ultimately still had too much for her Russian opponent, winning 7-6 (7/1), 6-3.
Chakvetadze took the initiative, mixing up her play against the big-hitting American and breaking serve in the first game and again in the fifth game but Williams responded with breaks of her own to take the first set into a tie-break, which she wrapped up 7-1.
In the second set Williams seized control, racing into a 4-0 lead as the 18th-ranked Chakvetadze struggled to cope with the seven-time Grand Slam champion's powerful hitting.
But the 21-year-old Russian refused to buckle, fending off two match points at 5-1 down and then breaking Williams as she served for the match before the American broke again to seal the set 6-3.
She said it was important to take the exhibition tournament seriously.
"I need all these matches, all these points. I need to be down a break, go to a tie-break, have some close service games and all of that, especially getting back into the season."
The JB Group Classic World Team Challenge, which ends Saturday, features four three-player teams representing Europe, Russia, the Americas and Asia-Pacific.
The gold group final, between the Americas and top seeds Russia, consists of four singles matches and one doubles match.
Chakvetadze took the initiative, mixing up her play against the big-hitting American and breaking serve in the first game and again in the fifth game but Williams responded with breaks of her own to take the first set into a tie-break, which she wrapped up 7-1.
In the second set Williams seized control, racing into a 4-0 lead as the 18th-ranked Chakvetadze struggled to cope with the seven-time Grand Slam champion's powerful hitting.
But the 21-year-old Russian refused to buckle, fending off two match points at 5-1 down and then breaking Williams as she served for the match before the American broke again to seal the set 6-3.
She said it was important to take the exhibition tournament seriously.
"I need all these matches, all these points. I need to be down a break, go to a tie-break, have some close service games and all of that, especially getting back into the season."
The JB Group Classic World Team Challenge, which ends Saturday, features four three-player teams representing Europe, Russia, the Americas and Asia-Pacific.
The gold group final, between the Americas and top seeds Russia, consists of four singles matches and one doubles match.