Julia juggernaut continues

Goerges and Wozniacki shared two service breaks apiece in the first set for it to be determined on a tie-break, where the former established an early 4-1 advantage before closing it out 7-3.

The second set also looked destined to be decided by a first-to-seven clincher with both players locked at 5-5 following three breaks each, when Goerges broke again and consolidated it to clinch a memorable 7-6 (3), 7-5 triumph.

“I didn’t play my best game. I made way too many unforced errors and Julia took advantage of that,” Wozniacki admitted afterwards.

“She didn’t really allow me to get a rhythm and – every time I felt: ‘Okay, I’m back in the match. I’m starting to play a few games well’ – I’d again make some unforced errors at very important times, which is a bit disappointing.

“I just need to get back and work on some things because I wasn’t really happy with the way I played.”

Agnieszka Radwanska had previously booked her final berth earlier on in the night with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 win over the five-time Dubai semi-finalist, Jelena Jankovic.

The fifth-seeded Pole broke her eighth-ranked opponent from Serbia in the second and fourth games of the first set, either side of a Jankovic break, to open up a commanding 4-1 lead.

Respective holds then took the score to 5-2, when Radwanska broke again for a third time to claim the opener.

The tables were turned in the second though, with ‘JJ’ breaking Radwanska’s service thrice in five games to steal a similar march on the Krakow-born competitor at 4-1.

Two holds, to Radwanska’s one, duly saw Jankovic level things up with an identical scoreline to the first set and force a decisive third.

There, however, Jankovic’s serve faltered badly – with four double faults interspersing the action – and Radwanska took full advantage, romping away with three breaks and holds to taste sweet success with a bagel.

“She just started to play much better in the second set. I was really in trouble. She was really hitting the ball very well,” the 22-year-old explained.

“But, in the third set, I was just trying to be focused on my game and fight until the end. I also think the second game of the third set was the key in this match.

“I really got more confident after that and she got a bit angry after that. I’m just so happy, especially as I know that Jelena is playing great tennis here actually every year and having great results here in Dubai all the time.

“So, I knew it was going to be very tough and I’m happy that I played much better than the other days. I just hope I can play the same on Saturday. I will really have to play good tennis to win.”

alex@khaleejtimes.com

RESULTS

Women’s Doubles, Semi-Finals: Liezel Huber (USA) & Lisa Raymond (USA) (1) bt Nuria Llagostera Vives (Spain) & Anastasia Rodionova (Australia) (4) 6-3, 6-2.

Women’s Singles, Semi-Finals: Agnieszka Radwanska (5) (Poland) bt Jelena Jankovic (8) (Serbia) 6-2, 2-6, 6-0. Women’s Singles, Semi-Finals: Julia Goerges (Germany) bt Caroline Wozniacki (3) (Denmark) 7-6 (3), 7-5.

Order of Play for Saturday: Centre Court (Not before 5pm): Women’s Doubles, Final.

(Not before 7pm): Women’s Singles, Final: Agnieszka Radwanska (5) (Poland) vs Julia Goerges (Germany).