Kanepi Stuns Jankovic at Wimbledon, Faces Pliskova in 2nd Round
One huge challenge accomplished for Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi, another one looms.
A dazzling performance against seventh-seed Jelena Jankovic in the first round of the women’s singles draw at Wimbeldon on Sunday has given Kanepi the opportunity to play Czech Karolina Pliskova for the right to advance to the third round.
Kanepi has lost both matches that she has played against Pliskova, in 2008 and 2013. Both were in WTA action. However, both matches were on clay.
On Sunday, Kanepi, who had lost her last two encounters with Jankovic, broke her serve early and cruised to a 6-3 win in the first set. She closed Jankovic out with a 6-2 win in the second, and Jankovic was never able to trouble her serve on the No. 2 court.
"That was a very impressive performance from Kaia Kanepi against Jelena Jankovic,“ two-time Grand Slam winner Tracy Austin told BBC television after the match. "Tremendous serving, a commanding performance from the baseline with so much power and pace and she held her nerve superbly at the end."
Kanepi is currently ranked 42nd in the world; Pliskova is ranked 50th. Kanepi made the quarterfinals of Wimbeldon in 2010 and 2013. The match will be played Friday or Saturday, depending on how the tournament evolves.