Jankovic and Hantuchova Make Winning Starts at Dubai Tennis Championships

Dubai, UAE, February 20th, 2007: In-form Jelena Jankovic and svelte Slovak Daniela Hantuchova made a winning start to the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday, both claiming straight-set victories.

Fifth-seeded Jankovic took just 61 minutes to overwhelm Aravane Rezai of France 6-1 6-2, and eighth-seeded Hantuchova was equally convincing while dismissing Russia’s Elena Vesnina 6-1 6-3.

Rezai hit the ball hard, but not always accurately, against Jankovic, who never had to raise her game above the ordinary. The Serb slipped up just once, dropping her serve in the second game of the second set, but she responded by sweeping five of the next six games.

“I saw when I stepped on the court that she was hitting every ball no matter if it was high or low, she just goes for it,” said Jankovic, who last month won the Auckland tournament and reached the Sydney final. “I tried just to control the points, not to let her set up, and I did okay. It can always be better, but for a first match it went well.”

Some solid serving and strong groundstrokes always gave eighth-seeded Hantuchova the advantage against Vesnina, and it was only a matter of time before she made a breakthrough against her less experienced opponent.

That came when Hantuchova broke to lead 3-1, and she increased her lead by breaking again for 5-1. Up until then, Hantuchova had given up just one point on serve, but she then struggled to serve out the set, holding off a break point before taking it 6-1.

Vesnina briefly gained the upper hand in the second set, breaking for 2-0 but then dropping her own serve in the next game. Hantuchova then had to fight off three break points as Vesnina led 3-2, but after holding for 3-3 Hantuchova gave up only two more points in the match.

“It’s my third time here so I knew what to expect from the court,” said Hantuchova. “It’s usually windy and not easy, but I felt like I dealt with the conditions well. I also knew she came here quite late and I was here already for a couple of days getting ready, so definitely I felt I had an advantage over her and used it in the right way.”

Among other winners on Tuesday was rising Austrian star Tamira Paszek, the 16-year old qualifier defeating Dubai-based Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik 7-5 6-3 to set up a clash with top seed and defending champion Justine Henin.

American Meghann Shaughnessy beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland 6-3 6-4, and Vera Dushevina earned a second round showdown with number two seed Amelie Mauresmo when Elena Likhovtseva retired after losing the first set of their all-Russian clash 6-2.

The Dubai Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and takes place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Play in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event takes place at the Dubai Tennis Stadium from 19th to 24th February, and continues from 26th February to 3rd March with the ATP event featuring Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Marcos Baghdatis.

For further information: John Rynehart, Promoseven Sports Marketing,
(T) +9714 3210008; (M) +971 50 55 96795; john.rynehart@promoseven.com