Hungarian teenager Agnes Szavay staged an astonishing comeback from a set and 5-1 down to beat world number three Jelena Jankovic 6-7 7-5 6-2 in an enthralling China Open final on Sunday.

Jankovic appeared to be cruising to the title after winning a tough first set in a tiebreak and then storming to a 5-1 lead in the second. But the 18-year-old Szavay took advantage when Jankovic began to show signs of fatigue, winning six consecutive games to snatch the second set. The sixth seed then dominated the last set to wrap up the title in three hours. Read more »

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Second-seeded Jelena Jankovic took revenge against Lindsay Davenport on Saturday by beating her in straight sets 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the China Open final in Beijing.

The two players had faced each other earlier this month at the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic in Bali, and then Davenport stunned top-seeded Jankovic 6-4 2-6 6-2. Eventually, the American was the champion of the tournament winning her fifty-second career title.

However, Jelena Jankovic is now on the way to her fifth title of the season. In the China Open final, the Serb will face Hungarian rising star Agnes Szavay, who has played the best tennis of her career over the past two months, finishing as the runner-up in New Haven and as a quarterfinalist at the US Open.

The 18-year-old Szavay, seeded sixth in Beijing, reached the final with a solid 6-1 6-2 victory over Peng Shuai of China. (source: On the Baseline)

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Former world number one Lindsay Davenport will play second-seeded Jelena Jankovic in the semifinal of the 2007 China Open in Beijing. In the other semifinal match, Agnes Szavay of Hungary will face home favorite Pen Shuai.

Davenport, who won the last week’s Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic in Bali, defeated Elena Dementieva 7-6 (1), 6-1, while Jankovic beat Akiko Morigami 6-3, 7-5.

World number three Jelena Jankovic of Serbia is aiming for her fifth WTA title this year, but also for the top of the singles rankings: "My ultimate goal is to be the world No. 1…Now my ranking is very close, but I still have a long way to go. I need to work hard and I hope I can make it one day."

Peng Shuai of China upset third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Peng will next meet rising star Agnes Szavay, seeded-sixth, who defeated Maria-Emilia Salerni 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. (source: Sports Illustrated)

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In her latest diary entry, Ana Ivanovic informed her fans that she has officially finished high school, and has enrolled on a course at a private university in Belgrade called FEFA where she will study finance.

“I’m very impressed with the organization of the course so far, and I’m sure I’m going to spend many hours studying in player lounges over the coming years,” said the Roland Garros runner-up.

The tennis beauty, as many people call her, spent a busy week in her home town. She did a ten-hour-long photoshoot for her sponsor Verano Motors, she was inaugurated as a UNICEF ambassador and visited the Vladimir Rolovic School as well as the Ministry of Sport where there were ceremonies for her. Ivanovic, however, found some time for herself too, so she drove around Belgrade in the Peugeot that the sponsor had given to her.

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Israel’s Shahar Peer, ranked No.16 in the world, is wearing an olive green military uniform now. Israel has mandatory military service for both men and women, and the tennis star hasn’t tried to avoid it like some other celebrities.

"There was no question," the 20-year-old Peer said. "All my friends are going and I wanted to be a part of it…When I am home, I have to go. I want to do my part."

Peer is a part-time soldier, and serves as a military administrative secretary. The army has awarded her an "outstanding athlete" status which allows her to serve a few hours a day at her own convenience. Peer, who will complete her compulsory two-year service in October, said that the military service has not interfered with her playing career.

"It's obvious that Shahar Peer is not going to be sent off to protect the state's borders," said Peer's direct commander Maj. Shirley Shapira. "But service in the army is a mission in Israel, and everyone gives as much as they can." (via Canadian Press, photo via WTAworld)

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