Capriati ends Mikaelian dream

Mikaelian returns a shot during Friday's match against Capriati Keystone

Jennifer Capriati has put an end to Marie-Gaïané Mikaelian's amazing run at the Swisscom Challenge tennis tournament in Kloten.

After accounting for Russian seventh seed Elena Dementieva and world number 39 Tatiana Panova, the Lausanne teenager was unable to find a way past the newly-crowned world number one, losing Friday’s match 4-6, 2-6.

After being broken in the very first game of the match, Mikaelian, to her credit, refused to crumble and promptly broke back with a stunning drive deep past Capriati’s forehand.

Increasing pressure

But as the set wore on, it was clear that Capriati had the edge. Although not playing at her best, the former child prodigy was able to comfortably win her own service games while putting the young Swiss star under increasing pressure in the games that followed.

After defending four break points in three games, Mikaelian finally gave way in the ninth game of the set to go 4-5 down. With Capriati serving successfully to clinch the first set, the mountain facing Mikaelian had taken on Matterhorn proportions.

As the second set got underway, the world number one appeared to have got fully into her rhythm, exploiting a possible weakness in Mikaelian’s running game with an exhausting combination of shots down both tramlines.

The young Swiss was forced to defend another three break points in the opening game of the second set, but the relentless Capriati got her reward two games later. A further break against Mikaelian’s in game seven gave the American a comfortable 5-2 lead.

Moments later, Mikaelian’s incredible week was over. A Capriati shot from well behind the baseline fell onto the net, before cruelly dribbling onto the Swiss player’s side of the court.

The Swiss crowd rose to show their appreciation for the American and of course for their homegrown star, who succeeded in putting unexpected life into the early stages of the tournament following the withdrawal through injury of compatriot Martina Hingis.

Tantalising semi-final

Swiss involvement in the tournament may now be over, but Mikaelian’s defeat at least sets up a tantalising semi-final encounter on Saturday, with Capriati now due to face fellow American and world number three Lindsay Davenport.

Saturday’s other semi-final will pit fourth-seeded Yugoslav Jelena Dokic against French fifth seed Nathalie Tauziat. Dokic, who has won two of her last three tournaments, overcame Italy’s Silvia Elia Farina 6-4, 7-6 in the quarter-finals while Tauziat saw off fellow French player Sandrine Testud 7-6, 7-6.

by Mark Ledsom, Kloten.