Myskina defeats Likhovtseva in three sets.

Photo: TeamWTA
By Etienne Stekelenburg
October 8 2004

Anastasia Myskina defeats fellow Muscovite Elena Likhovtseva in three sets 4-6, 6-0, 6-2, at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix for a place in the semifinals. She will meet Lindsay Davenport on Saturday who defeated Jelena Jankovic earlier today.

Elena Likhovtseva took the first set after breaking Myskina’s first service game. She breaks again for 4-2 lead and does not gives the lead away winning the first set 6-4 in 35 minutes.

During the chance-over for the second set the trainer come on court for Likhovtseva, she takes a medical time out for treatment.

In the second set Anastasia Myskina took a different path to glory. Attacking every ball that came on her way she started to hit winners and making life tougher on court for Likhovtseva. Within 64 minutes of play the second set ends 6-0 for Myskina. She is winning rallies but not as easy as the score suggests, she has to fend off breakpoints and tough competition from her compatriot Likhovtseva.

Myskina breaks Likhovtseva’s service in the third game she is holding her serve for a 3-1 lead. She also breaks for a 4-1 lead but hitting a double fault in the sixth game her game is breaking, Likhovtseva sees a chance. Myskina is getting angry with herself to get herself back in the game. Likhovtseva takes the chance and breaks for 2-4.

As an answer Myskina breaks her fellow-countrywoman on love for a 5-2 lead. Now serving for the match she is ahead 30-0. With a double fault Likhovtseva comes back to 30-15 but hits a ball wide for 40-15. Myskina is at matchpoint; again she serves a double fault for 40-30. On her second matchpoint she hits a backhand winner for the game the set and the match.

Winning the match in 1 hour and 36 minutes for a place in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix semifinal on Saturday against Lindsay Davenport.