By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, April 9, 2021
Danka Kovinic streaked through nine of the last 10 games topping Yulia Putintseva 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-1 to reach her first semifinal in two years in Charleston.
Photo credit: Volvo Car Open Facebook
Sometimes, stepping away can reveal the bigger picture.
Danka Kovinic gained a stronger sense of self-belief when the pro circuit pressed paused last year. Kovinic is applying positive perspective to her run in Charleston this week.
The world No. 91 streaked through nine of the last 10 games rallying past Yulia Putintseva 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-1 to reach her first semifinal in two years at the Volvo Car Open in Charleston.
It is Kovinic's first WTA 500 level semifinal and comes six years after she made the Charleston quarterfinals as a qualifier knocking off Naomi Osaka, Christina McHale and Belinda Bencic on the way.
The 26-year-old Kovinic will play Ons Jabeur for a spot in Sunday's final. Jabeur exploited 13 double faults from Coco Gauff in a 6-3, 6-3 sweep, her first victory over the 17-year-old American in three career meetings.
The 26-year-old Tunisian, who won 22 of 26 points played on Gauff's serve, is seeking her first career WTA title.
After sweeping third-seeded Petra Kvitova 6-4, 6-1 yesterday for her third career Top 20 win on Rome, Kovinic turned her shoulders and drove the ball with greater authority out-hitting Putintseva over the final set today.
"Obviously this is my best tournament so far; my game is getting better and better," Kovinic told Tennis Channel's Steve Weissman afterward. "To be honest, last year when we returned back after Corona somehow I changed my mindset on the court where I really believe that I can beat good players, maybe the best ones in our sport.
"I think just this step forward in my game is showing today."
Tearing through seven straight points to start the match, Putintseva burst to a 2-0 lead. Kovinic took charge midway through the set and was calling shots in rallies during a four-game run.
Putintseva couldn't find the right net clearance burying a backhand into net and dropping her blue Babolat racquet in disgust dropping her fourth consecutive games to go down 2-4.
Playing with more height and depth, Putintseva broke back then made the most of serving with new balls holding to level after eight games.
In the tiebreaker, Kovinic blinked under pressure double-faulting to donate the mini-break and a 3-1 lead. Putintseva continued to play high and deep drawing errors extending to 5-1.
Completing a cleaner tie breaker, Putintseva stepped in and curled a crosscourt forehand into the corner wrapping a one-hour comeback set. Kovinic hit 11 more winners, but also doubled Putintseva's unforced error output—18 to 9—in the opening set.
In an electric rally, Kovinic sped back to the baseline and pulled off a stirring tweener to extend the point but couldn't hit through her quick-footed opponent falling into a love-30 hole. Showing her grit, the world No. 91 withstood a couple of break points working hard through a nine-minute hold to even after four games.
In Kovinic's next service game, she survived another love-30 start to hold.
Festering frustration erupted in Putintseva who clanked back-to-back double faults and couldn't find the court as Kovinic ran through eight of nine points breaking for 4-3.
Still, Kovinic didn't embrace the good fortune. She pushed an ill-advised drop shot into the middle of the court that was easy fodder for Putintseva's forehand as she broke back in the eighth game.
Serving to extend the set, Kovinic cranked a big serve immediately after a double fault then pasted the sideline with a forehand to forge a 5-all tie. From there, Kovinic surged through 12 of the next 15 points to snatch the second set.
The third set was all Kovinic as she stepped up near the baseline and drove shots into the corners rushing out to a 4-0 lead. Koninic closed in two hours, 52 minutes.