Hungarian teenager Agens Szavay capped off a tremendous week by defeating second seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in three sets to lift her first China Open crown yesterday.

 

 

The eighth seed launched a scintillating comeback, fighting from 5-2 down in the second set to win nine consecutive games to take the match 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-2 in Beijing.

 

With the title, the teenager is set to realize her childhood dream of a top-20 ranking.

 

It was the 18-year-old Szavay's second title of the season after winning in Palermo and becoming her nation's first US Open quarterfinalist last month.

 

She entered the final without dropping a set against China's giant killer Peng Shuai, who beat Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo.

 

"This one is maybe the most important one for me," said Szavay.

 

"I was a little bit nervous because I know she is world No 3. I just tried to hit the ball in and I am very happy I played at my level.

 

"My biggest weapon is my backhand -- I think that's the key of my success tonight."

 

Coming to Beijing at the last minute after world No 1 Justine Henin withdrew, Jankovic showed she is anything but a pushover.

 

The Serb has won Tier I events in Charleston and Rome this season to rise to a career-high rank of No 3.

 

She outplayed Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals on Saturday to end one the year's most compelling comeback stories.

 

"She is amazing," Jankovic said of the Hungarian.

 

"I had some chances that I didn't convert, that's a pretty disappointing thing."

 

A semifinalist here in Beijing last year, 22-year-old Jankovic took control at the start of the match and, after exchanging early breaks, saved two set points to narrowly win the first set with an 8-6 tiebreak.

 

The Hungarian then seemed to lose patience, smashed the racket and gave Jankovic an easy 5-2 lead by committing a string of unforced errors.

 

But with everybody ready to celebrate the Serb's fifth crown of the season, Szavay suddenly opened her account, rallying to level at 1-1 before breaking five successive serves.

 

Jankovic battled hard to win her own serve and broke to make it 5-2 in the deciding set. But it proved to be a fleeting respite from Szavay's assault as the Hungarian won the next game to win the match in two hours and 56 minutes.

 

Telling statistics show that Szavay fired 43 winners to Jankovic's 15.

 

"I cannot say I played very bad because I saw she was a different player at the end of the second set," Jankovic said.

 

"I fought to stay but she just didn't make any mistakes in the last set."

 

Jankovic, who has played 16 tournaments this year, said she would cut the number of matches in a bid to focus on bigger events next season.

 

"I think I would cut half of the matches next year," she said.

 

"I am sure I played too many tournaments, so I am very very tired now.

 

"I had too many bad play in so many events and my body was put to the limit.

 

"I cannot wait the end of the season and I just want to have a very good rest and win more matches at major tournaments next year."

 

Earlier yesterday, Chuang Chia-jung, who teamed up with Hsien Su-wei, beat Han Xinyun and XU Yifan 7-6(7/2), 6-3 to win the doubles trophy.

 

(China Daily September 24, 2007)