KEY POINTS:
If the ASB Classic is under threat, as seems the case, yesterday's final highlighted why Richard Palmer is likely to fight for his tournament.
In a high-quality match befitting a final, Jelena Jankovic defeated Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (11-9) 5-7 6-3 in a marathon two hours and 45 minutes.
The WTA is considering big changes, with the future of tier-four tournaments like the ASB Classic uncertain. Any change that would make it harder to attract some of the world's top players would a massive blow to a tournament that assembled the best field yet and crowds to rival the best (numbers are expected to equal if not surpass 2002 when glamour queen Anna Kournikova made it through to the semifinals).
Yesterday, though, it was all smiles for Jankovic, the tournament's top seed and world's No 12-ranked player. She looked like she fought a few demons in the match, as well as a troublesome foot injury and a swirling breeze, but it was Zvonareva who provided the most difficult assignment.
The Russian went toe-to-toe with Jankovic and made her opponent work hard to earn her US$21,100 winner's cheque.
The first set was a cracker with both players illustrating controlled power in front of a packed house and it was appropriate it went to a tiebreaker, eventually won 11-9 by Jankovic after Zvonareva held two set points. It was the first time the Serbian had been put under pressure in the tournament after breezing through the early rounds. The relief on her face after claiming the first set in a tick over an hour was evident.
Jankovic was always playing catchup in the second set, however, dropping her serve in the opening game, but she hung in there and had a number of chances to grab a crucial break at 5-5. Zvonareva kept fighting, Jankovic kept fighting herself and lost the set 7-5.
The Serbian raced out to a 4-1 lead in the third and deciding set and eventually closed it out 6-3. It was a moment of pure joy for Jankovic, who had won only one tournament previously, at Budapest in 2004, and she quickly looked to the heavens before lobbing a ball to a vocal gathering of delirious Serbian fans.
"I was young when I won my first title and I didn't really know what it was to win a title," the 21-year-old explained. "Now I appreciate it a lot more and my hard work is paying off.
"I am so happy. I didn't know what to expect at this tournament. There's this saying, I came, I saw, I conquered, and I did. It's amazing."
Despite being the bridesmaid for the second year in a row after being beaten by Marion Bartoli in last year's final, Zvonareva was upbeat about missing out on the title again.
"I think about it differently, it's great to make the final again," she said. "Not many people come back and be in the final again. I'm happy I made it to the Saturday and I had a really good week."
The pair will head to the Australian Open full of confidence. Organisers of the ASB Classic would love to share their optimism.
Former world No 1 doubles player Paola Suarez ensured her final visit to the ASB Classic was a winning one after she teamed up with Janetter Husarova to claim the doubles title.
Suarez has been a regular in Auckland for some time but is retiring at the end of the year. The doubles was a complete contrast to the singles final, with Suarez and Husarova blitzing Su-Wei Hseih and Shikha Uberoi 6-0 6-2 in 51 minutes.
