By Adrianna Outlaw | Sunday, October 18, 2015
Jelena Jankovic defeated second-seeded Angelique Kerber, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1, in the Hong Kong final to capture her 15th career title.
Photo credit: Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open
Jelena Jankovic made her Hong Kong debut one to remember.
The fourth-seeded Jankovic rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory over Angelique Kerber to capture her 15th career title at the Hong Kong Tennis Open.
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It is Jankovic's second title in a month. She swept Denisa Allertova to win the Guangzhou championship last month.
It's the first time since 2009 Jankovic has won two titles in the same season.
"I had an amazing week," Jankovic said. "(Angelique is) an amazing competitor and amazing fighter. I thought she was like a Chinese wall at times I could not make a winner. It's amazing how well she runs and how well she plays."
Jankovic, who defeated Venus Williams in the semifinals, dropped just one set in five matches en route to the championship.
Kerber opened with a break and used sharp returns to take the first set. Each woman scored three service breaks in the second set. Kerber was one game from victory at 6-3, 6-5, but Jankovic answered with a love hold to force the tie break.
The world No. 24 lifted her level to win the tie break.
The second-seeded Kerber, who took a medical time-out midway through the final set, could not match the Serbian wild card's consistency in the decider.
"I tried to today all I could. Some days you have a little bit more pain all over your body," Kerber said. "I really tried to do everything I could. At least I was trying...It was an amazing week for me."
Jankovic broke for a 2-0 lead in the decider and banged her fourth ace to consolidate for 3-0.
Kerber left the court for a medical evaluation after two hours, seven minutes of play. She returned to the court five minutes later and worked through a deuce game holding for 1-3.
Trailing 1-4, Kerber took a visit from her coach. It didn't stop Jankovic's roll. When Kerber jabbed a backhand wide, the former world No. 1 scored her sixth break for a 5-1 lead.
On championship point, Kerber steered a backhand wide as Jankovic beat Kerber for the second time in six meetings.