Emotional match in Paris
by Pierre Cantin

Going against Monica Seles was certainly a big challenge. A player that Jelena had never beaten previously, a player that had only lost to one player in 2002 and a player who had easily defeated Henin the previous day. Even Jelena said she did not expect things to turn out the way they did...

But Jelena proved the match would be a tough battle very early on getting her first serves in with a lot of power. Although Jelena always stayed below 60% of 1st serve percentage, she was dominant at all time with her serve imposing her tempo and getting many free points.. So the match started off with Jelena not only serving well but hitting all kinds of winners. In fact, at one point she had 10 winners against 2 for Seles.. With a break, Jelena took the first set 6-3 in 25 minutes and things suddenly looked good. In their previous matchups, never had Jelena won the first set so there were more reasons to hope..

And what could you wish for then ? An early break in the second set ? That is exactly what Jelena did! She was able to continue to put tremendous pressure on Monica with brilland shots going along with many drop shots. In fact, just an interesting statistic, Jelena tried 10 drop shots during the match and won all 10 points..amazing isn't it ? So yes, she had an early break but Monica is a great competitor and like she often does, she got the break back instantly..but still, Jelena had a set lead and was looking good... But that is when probably the worst game of her tournament was played.. Serving, Jelena had an easy ball at the net to put away..very easy..but she missed it, making it 0-15. The dramatic part was that it bothered Jelena who then put a ball in the net and two double faults to be broken. No one could expect to give such an opportunity to Monica and get away with it.. Monica served off the second set and tied things at 6-3, 3-6..

The third set was very very emotional for Jelena.. Early on, a few very questionable calls went the way of Monica Seles.. The chair umpire wasn't really at his place.. I saw many of his games this week and never did he overrule a call, not one time.. and when it happened once, then twice and 3 and 4 times. On one occasion, even Monica told Jelena that the ball was out but there was nothing to do, the umpire would not overruel. Jelena simply lost it.. she started crying on the court while still playing to not lose points because of time delays.. It was devastating to watch.. Luckily for her, despite throwing a few double faults during that time (I think she served 6 or 7 in the match), she was not broken and stayed in the match. And then things went a bit around as Monica felt robbed by a couple of calls, really sad to see such an incredible match be ruined by these events.. Anyway, so Jelena and Monica went without any breaks up to 4-3 Jelena when they played a long and hard game in which Jelena had many chances to break but Monica finally held and after Jelena did the same, they got to 5-4... But I guess she had earned it, Jelena simply played amazing shots to a stunned Monica Seles and ran out of the court with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win to reach her first final in 2002.. Certainly a great effort and another great day in which her mental toughness got her to win the match, congrats Jelena!!!

Next up is either Amelie Mauresmo or Venus Williams