Date:15/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/15/stories/2007091561702500.htm

Sport - Badminton

Davenport shocks Jankovic

NUSA DUA (Indonesia): Lindsay Davenport continued her comeback at the Bali Classic on Friday, reaching the semifinals with an impressive 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win over top seed and World No. 3 Jelena Jankovic.

Ji Chunmei and Sun Shenan of China beat Sunitha Rao and her Uzbek partner Akgul Amanmuradova 6-3, 1-6, 10-5 in the doubles quarterfinals on Friday.

The Indo-Uzbek pair had earlier scored a 0-6, 6-3, 10-8 victory over Andreja Klepac of Slovenia and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the first round.

Gonzalez in semifinals

At Beijing, second seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile advanced to the semifinals of the China Open, surviving a tough challenge from South Korea’s Hyung-taik Lee — and some wet weather.

The 27-year-old Gonzalez, who defeated Lee 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4, has come alive this week in China after a dismal summer hard court season marked by four consecutive first-round defeats after Wimbledon.

Gonzalez led 7-5, 3-0 in the quarterfinal before play was stopped due to rain. When the players came back on court, Lee won the second set to push the match into the decider.

But, Gonzalez’s experience proved too much for Lee , who was Asia’s last hope in the tournament.

The results (quarterfinals):

At Nusa Dua (WTA Bali Classic): Daniela Hantuchova bt Ayumi Morita 6-2, 6-1; Lindsay Davenport bt Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 2-6, 6-2; Sara Errani bt Aiko Nakamura 6-1, 6-2; Sorana Cirstea bt Edina Gallovits 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3).

At Beijing (ATP China Open): Fernando Gonzalez bt Lee Hyung-taik 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4; Ivan Ljubicic bt Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5).