Naoko to face Yuka in all-Japanese finals at Open<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Second seed Naoko Sawamatsu will face seventh
\nseed Yuka Yoshida in an all-Japanese Finals of the Danamon
\nIndonesia Women's Open today at the Senayan rebound ace court.<\/p>\n
The finals will be aired today live at 10 a.m. on ANteve.<\/p>\n
Sawamatsu had to stretch her muscles to overcome Rita Grande
\nof Italy 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-1, in a two-hour-and-11-minute match.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old player, who beat compatriot Nana Miyagi 7-5,
\n6-1, expressed her hope to win the US$107,500 tournament.<\/p>\n
\"We both played very well and it was a very good and long
\nmatch,\" she said during a postmatch conference.<\/p>\n
In the second set, Sawamatsu made many unforced errors and
\ngave the win to the Italian 3-6.<\/p>\n
\"It was hard to win the second set because I made many
\nerrors,\" she said.<\/p>\n
After a 10-minute break due to an extreme-weather rule at the
\nbeginning of the deciding set, Sawamatsu had a chance to get her
\nsecond wind.<\/p>\n
\"The players' lounge is air-conditioned and it was very cold.
\nIt really helped me to regain my energy,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Grande, who has big serves, had cramps in her legs.<\/p>\n
\"I had cramps. I couldn't move well and I couldn't play
\naggressively,\" said Grande, who has suffered cramps during an
\ninternational tournament for the second time in her professional
\ncareer.<\/p>\n
\"I think it was because of the weather. Besides, we both
\nplayed very tough, specially in the beginning,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Grande reached the semifinals after Nancy Feber of Belgium
\nwalked over due to her injury.<\/p>\n
World ranked number 43 Sawamatsu, who wants to return to the
\ntop 40, hoped she could beat Yoshida in today's final.<\/p>\n
In another semifinal, Yoshida defeated Alexia Dechaume-
\nBalleret of France 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.<\/p>\n
Yoshida started the match shakily but fought from behind to
\nforce a tie-break after a five-time deuce. Dechaume-Balleret
\ncould only earn two points before Yoshida stole the second set.<\/p>\n
\"I tried until I led 3-0 but she equalize to 3-3. I was very
\ntired then and couldn't play very well,\" Dechaume-Balleret said.<\/p>\n
\"Although I lost, I think I played good. But it's hard for me
\nto win the tie break, moreover to win the third set,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Dechaume-Balleret said humidity was a problem for her during
\nthe match.<\/p>\n
In the third set, Yoshida dominated the games and won it
\neasily 6-1.<\/p>\n
Yoshida, who won 6-4, 3-2 against Wang Shi Ting of Chinese
\nTaipei, who retired due to a stomach illness during the
\nquarterfinals Friday, said she would do her best to beat
\nSawamatsu today.<\/p>\n
\"Naoko is a very good player and I've never won against her
\nbefore. I'll just try my best,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Today is Yoshida's first singles final, third doubles final
\nand it is also her first time to reach the singles and doubles
\nfinals in a tournament.<\/p>\n
\"I think I'm lucky because Feber was injured so she couldn't
\nperform in the singles and doubles with Nielsen Helgeson in the
\nquarterfinals,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Yoshida and partner Lenka Nemeckova of the Czech Republic won
\non a walk over from Feber\/Helgeson in the doubles.<\/p>\n
Yoshida\/Nemeckova will meet Kristine Radford\/Kerry-Anne Guse
\nof Australia today. The Australians defeated Naoko Kijimuta\/Nana
\nMiyagi of Japan 7-5, 6-3. (yan)<\/p>",
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