Teliana Pereira battled past No.2 seed Alizé Cornet to become Brazil’s first WTA quarterfinalist in 14 years. No.1 seed Jelena Jankovic faced some of her own resistance but made it through.
Jelena Jankovic made a winning beginning to her Copa Claro Colsanitas campaign on Wednesday afternoon, battling past Julia Cohen in three sets in her first round match.
The No.1-seeded Jankovic looked headed for a straight set victory after winning the first set and twice going up a break in the second set – including serving for the match leading 64 54 – but the tenacious Cohen pushed it to a third set before falling in a three-hour, 18-minute marathon, 64 57 62.
“It was really long for a first round,” Jankovic said after the match. “She was playing these high balls, which were difficult for me to attack. But I was able to stay strong mentally and physically, and I told myself to keep being aggressive and going for my shots. I kept doing that until I won the match.”
Next up for Jankovic will be Colombian wildcard Mariana Duque-Mariño, who won the only other first round match that was yet to be played, outlasting Spain’s Estrella Cabeza Candela, 63 36 64.
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http://en.africatopsports.com/2013/02/21/tennis-radwanska-won-in-her-quarterfinals-over-putintseva/