CHARLESTON, SC, USA – Former World No.21 Elena Vesnina has tended to play some of her best tennis on green clay throughout her career, and this week has seen the Russian’s resurgent season hit new heights at the Volvo Car Open, overcoming some blustery conditions and an inspired opponent in Laura Siegemund to win, 7-5, 6-4, and reach the semifinals in Charleston.
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“I’m really enjoying my time here in Charleston,” Vesnina told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. “I love the city, the tournament, and I love this crowd! I’m playing well, even today with really tough conditions to play in.
“I was talking to myself about the wind, arguing with the wind, asking him to stop blowing that hard. It didn’t work! That’s why I had to work hard to win this match.”
Vesnina reached the final of Charleston back in 2011, and showed some of that vintage form early in the match against Siegemund as she raced out to a 4-1, double break lead. In the midst of a career-best season herself, Siegemund didn’t take the deficit lying down, eventually earning both breaks back to level the opening set at 5-5.
Undaunted, Vesnina broke once more to clinch the opening set and move out to an early break in the second. Three points from victory, Vesnina was about to put away a forehand volley when Siegemund’s hat flew from her head, causing a let to be called. The mishap led to one last surge from the German, who got within two points of leveling the second set as she did the first, but the top doubles threat weathered the storm and earned a sixth straight victory in straight sets.
“I was trying not to rush the points because I was controlling the rally,” Vesnina said, having hit 22 winners to 24 unforced errors, and venturing to net 18 times, winning 11 of those exchanges. “I was the one attacking, coming in and trying to hit aggressive from the back.
“It was a little bit tricky with the wind and after 4-1 Laura played really well, much better than at the beginning of the match. I was just trying to play and fight.
“With these conditions, it’s impossible to show your best tennis. You just have to go and fight for every point.”
Vesnina’s opponent was decided by the last match of the day, won by former French Open finalist Sara Errani, who turned around a tricky opening set to defeat Yulia Putintseva, 7-6(2), 6-1. In the meantime, the newlywed has generously fielded questions as to whether her autumn marriage to Pavel Tabuntsov has led to her uptick in form.
“[Tournament Manager] Eleanor Adams, she was like, ‘I know why you’re playing good.’ She told me this morning. I’m like, ‘Why?’ ‘Because you’re still on the honeymoon.’
“I’m like, ‘Eleanor, he’s not even here. I’m alone.’ She’s like, ‘doesn’t matter.'”
Errani appeared out of sorts to start the match, falling behind an early break and finding herself two points from a one set deficit as Putintseva served for it at 5-4. From there, the Italian veteran gritted her way through an ensuing tie-break only to run away with the match in under two hours. In all, she hit 21 winners to only 18 unforced errors – Putintseva hit 25 winners but 35 errors – an maintained an always-impressive 89% first serve percentage.
“The first set was one hour and 15 minutes,” she told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. “It was really long, really tough and every game was, ‘Advantage, deuce, advantage deuce!’ But it was good and in the second, a bit more easy. I started to play a little bit better.”
Into the Volvo Car Open semifinals for the first time in her career, Errani has already struck gold by winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and will have an opportunity to reach yet another Premier final on Saturday.
“I’m really happy to be in the semifinals; for me it’s amazing. I know every match is really tough, so I’m really happy.”
