Aravane Finally Downs Gisella

Before their Sunday match, petite Aravane Rezai had never beaten Argentine Gisela Dulko. Things are changing on the women’s tour and they are changing fast. Aravane put together her new offensive game plan and fought off a Gisela comeback effort to claim the championship against the number four seed, who had held a 2-0 career record against the champion.

The Swedish Open is the first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournament since last year’s Wimbledon where the top four seeds arrived safely in the semifinals. Top seed Flavia Pennetta lost to her good friend and fourth seed Gisela, 6-3, 6-1, while Aravane overcame a testy Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-3.

Rezai now has a 3-2 finals record to Dulko-3-2 record. Rezai came out with the aggressive power game that has lifted her into the tour’s top 20. Her go-for-broke style makes her a feared player on any surface, but she is extremely effective on clay.

Aravane raced through the first set at 6-3 and held a 4-2 lead in the second set before Gisela mounted a move. Dulko, who saved four set points in her second round match with Tatjana Malek, played more loosely than usual and earned breaks in the 8th and tenth game to win the second set 6-4.

Aravane raced ahead 4-0 in the third before Dulko again surged back to 4-3. Rezai broke to go up 5-3 but Dulko came right back to get to 4-5. On serve, Aravane put together three blistering returns to earn the final break in the 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 triumph.

For Rezai, this was an important win. She was disappointed with her play at Wimbledon but showed that she is at the top of the middle tier and moving upwards.

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