Roddick, Jankovic win China tennis Open titles
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
BEIJING, Sept 29 (AFP): Andy Roddick held off a fierce challenge from Israeli underdog Dudi Sela to win the China Open final Sunday as top seed Jelena Jankovic sealed the women's title with a thumping win.
Big-serving Roddick, the second seed in the Beijing tournament, overcame 92-ranked Sela 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 while Jankovic defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets.
Pushed throughout by his unfancied opponent, Roddick failed to take two match points in the second set tie-break as Sela recovered to level the match.
In the third and deciding set, Sela, who showed a willingness to come into the net throughout, continued to impress with the range of his shot-making, but could not force the break from Roddick.
Big-serving Roddick, the second seed in the Beijing tournament, overcame 92-ranked Sela 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 while Jankovic defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets.
Pushed throughout by his unfancied opponent, Roddick failed to take two match points in the second set tie-break as Sela recovered to level the match.
In the third and deciding set, Sela, who showed a willingness to come into the net throughout, continued to impress with the range of his shot-making, but could not force the break from Roddick.