Wimbledon - Zvonareva reaches maiden final

Eurosport - Thu, 01 Jul 14:59:00 2010

Russian 21st seed Vera Zvonareva booked a place in her first Grand Slam final, recovering from a set down to beat Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6 6-3 6-2 at Wimbledon.

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Zvonareva will face defending champion and world number one Serena Williams in the final on Saturday.

Zvonareva, who also came back from a set down to beat eighth seed Kim Clijsters in the semi-finals, looked tight with nerves for the opening 45 minutes of the clash on Centre Court.

But the longer the match went on the more the Russian relaxed, and she sealed victory with an inside out forehand into the corner of the court after one hour and 16 minutes.

"I'm very excited, I'm not realising it at the moment," the 25-year-old said in a courtside interview.

"It was very tough out there, she's a tough opponent and I'm happy with the way I hung in the match and was able to turn it around.

"It's one of my dreams to be out there (in the final)."

Pironkova made the better start to the match, racing through her opening service holds with ease while worrying Zvonareva with some punishing ground-strokes on the Russian's service games.

And with the momentum very much behind her it was Pironkova who grabbed the first break of the match, catching the top of the tape with a forehand return of serve and seeing the ball trickle over the net for a winner in the sixth game.

The 22-year-old went confidently on to serve out the set three games later, sealing it with a series of solid backhands that eventually drew the error from Zvonareva.

The second set began in much the same vein but the Russian, who was the overwhelming favourite to reach the final, began to gain in confidence as the match went on and held with increasing ease.

Zvonareva, who had been ranked as high as five in the world before an ankle injury ruined her 2009 season, went on to break in the sixth game with a backhand winner down the line after a series of vicious ground-strokes pushed Pironkova out of position.

The Russian then went on to serve out the set three games later with the top of the net helping her produce the perfect forehand drop shot.

After levelling the match Zvonareva was very much in control and immediately broke for the first game of the decisive third set when Pironkova sent a backhand long after a lengthy rally.

The Russian had further break points in the third game of the set before grabbing the double break in the fifth, flashing a double handed backhand across court to beat Pironkova for pace.

Zvonareva did have a minor wobble in the sixth game of the final set as she sent consecutive forehands long to hand Pironkova two break back points.

But the 21st seed saved them both before going on to hold, and then served out the match two games later to book her place in the final.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. Loner

    Just go back to "Serena battles past­ Kvitova into final" article's forum where you­ are getting a serious pounding.

    From ashleysikod, on Sat 3 Jul 4:51

  2. Con 'the loner" Avraam

    Didn't I tell you­ not to write back until your homework is­ done?

    Homework first then write back...simple rules!­ You are not smart.

    Now off you go.

    From ashleysikod, on Sat 3 Jul 3:58

  3. Some of the comments are really retarded...
    Good win­ from Zvonareva though, but the big match is on­ saturday... She has the weapons to win it, but it will­ be the hardest challenge of her career.

    From Julien A, on Sat 3 Jul 3:00

  4. Does anyone REALLY CARE who wins on Saturday,not me­ thats for sure. At least we have one new face to­ watch, but who wins, is of no consequence. Bored to­ tears with the womens tour.

    From joanpound174, on Sat 3 Jul 2:27

  5. fek off con

    From Russell, on Fri 2 Jul 22:57

  6. Con "the loner" Avraam

    When you are smart­ enough to know that there's a difference between­ posting a comment [me] and an ignored psychopath who­ write letters to tennis players [you], then you can­ write back.

    From ashleysikod, on Fri 2 Jul 16:02

  7. Pity, because Pironkova is one sexy as hell b**tch.­ Anybody agree? Take a look at those legs.. jeeez

    From Mark Stevens, on Fri 2 Jul 15:15

  8. congratulations Ms. Vera Zvonareva

    From violy, on Fri 2 Jul 14:10

  9. To poster 17, Serena did not play her usual power­ packed match against Kvitova. That was what I was­ referring to. Yes,I 'm well aware of her ranking.

    From global trotter, on Fri 2 Jul 13:01

  10. though i prefer all williams final....... , but am also­ glad its going to be Vera (hardwork finally pays for­ her) against Serena , and not any of those overrated­ players ..... WILLIAMSES 4 LIFE

    From Felix, on Fri 2 Jul 12:33

  11. Serena isn't as dominant and her mental seems to be­ wavering too. A sign of aging or fatigue­ ?
    Zvonareva's explosive temper along with her year­ long ankle injuries had barred her to advance further,­ for she was ranked # 5 a couple of years ago. As long­ as she keeps her emotions under control and 120 %­ focused, he can make Serena run a mile longer. Take­ Serena to 3 sets and keep your errors low, you will­ have a chance to come out as the victor. Don't get­ me wrong, I've been a Serena fan for many years.­ May the better player win on a fine Saturday in SW19.

    From global trotter, on Fri 2 Jul 10:02

  12. I love cookies!

    From MariaSharapova, on Fri 2 Jul 9:58

  13. vera is a good ball striker but is very emotional. i­ hope vera holds her emotions intact, otherwise.. oh­ dear!

    From Miro*, on Fri 2 Jul 6:11

  14. what nonsense. it's exactly the amount of interest­ in a sport that should correspond to the amount of­ money the competitors get. How much money do­ professional archers get? or some other, relatively­ obscure sport like that

    From tomislav4499, on Fri 2 Jul 6:09

  15. Webbski and Samson Johnson, this isn't a popularity­ contest, it is a sport, and it doesn't matter how­ much interest it generates or how many comments people­ post, the only thing that matters is who is better at­ it.

    From elena_bojilova79, on Fri 2 Jul 5:53

  16. 5 posts is the amount of interest this gets. Imagine­ what the men's semi's will get. I will use­ this, the 6th post, to ask why women get the same pay­ as men. There is less interest in their game, they play­ less, and they aren't as good as men. It's­ political correctness gone mad.

    From webbski, on Fri 2 Jul 5:23

  17. Congratulations Zoni you definitely deserve it.

    From Terry L, on Fri 2 Jul 5:10
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