Bondarenko Crowned Girls' Champion

Ukrainian Katerina Bondarenko clinched the Girls' Singles Championship title over Ana Ivanovic in three sets.

Sixth-seeded Katerina Bondarenko of Ukraine clinched the Girls' Singles Championship title by defeating No. 3 seed of Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Montenegro. Bondarenko, who reached the finals after removing top seed Michaela Krajicek and fourth seed Shahar Peer from the draw, fought fiercely to take the action-packed three setter, 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2.

Ivanovic won the toss and decided to serve. But in the very first game she was sapped of energy by the sturdier-looking Ukrainian who turned the tables and took the game to deuce from a 40-15 score. Bondarenko then blasted some fabulous forehand drives. She made Ivanovic run from one corner to the other, forced her to lob the ball and then sent down an unstoppable volley. The match was on. Ivanovic fought back hard, saving five break points, but soon ran out of options. Eventually, Bondarenko broke her.
The second game turned out to be equally exciting. Bondarenko struggled to keep her serve as Ivanovic started hitting the ball furiously. But five deuces later, Bondarenko managed to take back the initiative. Twice she saved break points and won the game to lead 2-0.

Charged up, Ivanovic wasted no time in collecting the third game. She drove back her attacking opponent and forced her to play a more defensive game. Having managed that, she now generated more pace on her returns, stood close to the net and hit the ball with contempt. A bewildered Bondarenko stood motionless as Ivanovic broke her back to level the score 2-2.

Another exciting phase of tennis ensued as both girls broke each other in the next two games. The score now was levelled at 3-3. Bondarenko served out the next game and took it to love. She maintained the lead by once more breaking Ivanovic in the ninth game and easily held her serve to take the set 6-4.

Ivanovic regrouped to take the first game of the second set with a fierce serve that clocked 111mph. Bondarenko came out equally confident. She held her serve and broke Ivanovic to lead 2-1.

Ivanovic kept fumbling and struggled to keep her serve. She kept conceding break points and trailed at 2-4. But in the next game fought back bravely to break Bondarenko, and served to take the contest to 4-4.

The girls once again broke each other to level and force a tiebreak at 6-6. Ivanovic, though, proved more consistent and took it 7-2.

In the final set, Bondarenko once again broke Ivanovic's serve to take a 3-1 lead. Tears rolled down Ivanovic's cheeks. The pressure mounted further as she subsequently failed to cash in two break points.
The day belonged to Bondarenko. A double fault by Ivanovic gave Bondarenko her third match point, and she didn't falter. 

Written by Sajid Shaikh