Morigami Wins to Set Up All-Japanese Semifinal

Unseeded Akiko Morigami of Japan knows how to make Japanese tennis fans happy.

Friday afternoon on Stadium Court, Morigami joined compatriot Ai Sugiyama in Saturday’s Acura Classic semifinals by defeating Russia’s Anna Chakvetadze, 6-3, 6-4.

Morigami is Japan’s version of Monica Seles. She hits with two hands off both sides and when she’s pulled wide on the court, she stretches with one hand to reach the shot. Morigami even uses a Yonex racquet.

In Morigami’s quarterfinal victory over Chakvetadze, she pounded her ground strokes from the baseline and at times mixed her game by taking the pace off her shots.

There were six service breaks in the first set, but the most important one occurred when Morigami broke Chakvetadze at 5-3 to win the set.

In the second set, Morigami served for the match at 5-3, but double faulted twice and despite saving four break points, dropped her serve to make the score 5-4.

Chakvetadze, serving to stay in the match, began the game with two forehand errors and ended up falling behind 15-40. The 18-year-old Russian then won three straight points to take the game to deuce.

Trying to close out the match, Morigami varied her strategy and hit a soft, deep looping groundstroke which Chakvetadze returned into the net with a cross court forehand.

On match point, Morigami once again changed up the pace of her shot and sent another soft, deep looping shot to Chakvetadze’s backhand which she put in the net to end the match.

“Anna stayed pretty solid,” Morigami said. I had to use more like a variety, like a slice or topspin. It definitely helped me.”

Morigami is looking forward to her semifinal match against Sugiyama after having lost to her in both of their pervious head-to-head meetings.

“I’m very excited to play against Ai because she’s been the number one player (in Japan) the last couple of years,” Morigami said. “She’s obviously a great player. I have a lot of confidence in myself and I’m sure she does to.”

Morigami added, “I’m just going to keep and fighting and just find a way to win.”

• Morigami will face Japanese Fed Cup teammate Ai Sugiyama in Saturday’s semifinals.
• Morigami is ranked 51 in the world.
• Morigami is making her third Acura Classic appearance. She lost in qualifying in 2003 and fell in the first
• round of the main draw in 2004.
• Morigami improved her 2005 match record to 26-16.
• Morigami is now 2-0 in career head-to-head meetings with Chakvetadze.
• Chakvetadze is ranked 34 in the world.
• Chakvetadze’s 2005 match record is 28-14.
• Chakvetadze was making her Acura Classic debut this year.
  

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