Pierce Shuts Down Peng to Reach Final

She executed her strategy to near perfection as she routed Peng, 6-2, 6-2, in 65 minutes on Stadium Court.

“I’m happy with the way I started out the match,” Pierce said. “I was playing well. She’s a dangerous player.”

Things did not begin well for Peng as she opened the match with a double fault and lost the first game at love.

With Pierce leading 2-1, she lost a total of three points in the next three games to open up a 5-1 lead.

Peng, who dictated play in her semifinal win over Kim Clijsters, did not have the spring in her step that she had the night before as Pierce kept her on the defensive.

“I definitely had to stay on top of things and stay aggressive,” Pierce said.

At 5-2, Pierce served for the match, but fell behind 40-0. She fought off six break points and on the third deuce of the game, she fired two consecutive aces to clinch the set.

Peng dropped her serve to open the second set as she double faulted on break point. Peng proceeded to lose four of the next five games to fall behind 5-1.

Pierce did not drop serve the entire match and lost only five service points in the second set. At 5-2, she hit an ace and served out the match at love.

When asked what it would mean to her to win the Acura Classic, Pierce said, “It would be really special. I love this tournament. I love playing here and I’ve never won it.”

• Pierce advances to her second career Acura Classic final. She will play the winner of the Ai Sugiyama / Akiko Morigami
• Pierce is now 2-0 in head-to-head meetings with Peng.
• Pierce is ranked 14th in the world.
• Pierce improves her 2005 match record to 27-10.
• Pierce is playing in her ninth Acura Classic appearance.
• Peng, who was making her Acura Classic debut, played in her first Tier I semifinal.
• Peng’s 2005 match record is now 18-11.
• Peng is ranked 46 in the world.
  

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