Fujiwara upsets Jovanovski to win NECC-ITF crown

“I’m thrilled to win my first event of the year,” said Fujiwara,the world no 13 doubles player,after the match. “This was the first time in the tournament I was under pressure,but I’m happy to have come out of problems and win the title which is special for me,” she added.

The Japanese,who has been in the top 100,was out of the tour for nearly four years due to a wrist injury,which she finally recovered from in 2006.

Fujiwara,who lost 11 games on her way to the finals,broke the Serbian Fed Cup player Bojana in the 3rd game,but was broken in the 3rd game. Both the players also traded breaks in the 4th and 5th games to keep scores level. Bojana won her service game in the 11th and in the 12th game broke Fujiwara to win the set 7-5.

Fujiwara started the set breaking Bojana’ serve and held her game to go up 2-0,but Bojana fought back to break Fujiwara in the 4th game to level scores 2-2. Both players traded serves in the 5th and 6th game and held on serves to level scores at 4-4.

In the best game of the match,Fujiwara raised her level and brought in all her experience,moving the young Bojana all over the court,in an effort to tire the young Serbian. The strategy paid off,with Fujiwara securing a break to go up 5-4 and then holding on to her serve and winning the set 6-4.

From then on,Fujiwara took complete control of the match with some exciting rallies on both flanks,racing to a 4-0 lead breaking Bojana in the 1st and 3rd games.

Bojana showed some signs of comeback in the 8th game breaking Fujiwara to narrow the lead to 5-3,But the wily Japanese did not lose an opportunity to break back immediately in the 10th game and finish the match and claim her first major win of the year.

“I played well,but my opponent was fitter than me,I will have to work on my fitness for sure,” admitted Bojana after the match. “I had my chances in the second set ,but she was moving all around the court and returning ,which was frustrating,which made me make mistakes.”